HOW   TO 

.  IE  AND  DRIVE 

A    HORSE, 

CONTAINING 

A  Complete  Treatise   on  the  Horse, 

DESCRIBING  THE 

MOST    USEFUL    HORSES 

FOR     BUSINESS, 

AND 

THE  BEST  HORSES  POR  THE  ROAD. 

ALSO  GIVING 

INSTRUCTIONS    IN    BEEi^KING,    RIDINa 
AND    DRIVING   HORSES- 


A  Valuable  and  Instructive  Book. 


New  Yobk: 
FRANK     TOUSEY,    Publisher, 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1898,  by 

FRANK    TOUSEY, 
in  the  OflQce  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washingtop  ,D.C. 


HOW    TO 

Break,  Ride  and  Drive  a  Horse 


THE   RIDING   HORSE   AND   ITS  ACCOUTERMENTS. 

The  horse  used  for  riding,  commonly  called  "a  hack,"  is 
of  a  somewhat  diflerent  description  from  either  the  hunter  or 
the  race-horse.  Neither  is  the  ordinary  hack  precisely  like 
that  called  "the  covert-hack."  Many  thoroughbred  race- 
horses turn  out  good  hacks,  and  some  hunters  also  are  active 
enough  to  answer  the  same-  purpose;  but,  generally  speak- 
ing, this  is  not  the  case,  and  neither  the  one  nor  the  other 
would  come  under  the  description  of  the  "  perfect  hack." 
The  most  obvious  distinction  in  hacks  is  between  park-hacks 
and  road-hacks;  the  former  requiring  only  a  tine  form  with 
showy  action,  while  the  latter  are  selected  for  their  service- 
able qualities,  and  must  be  capable  of  doing  a  distance  in 
good  time,  with  ease  to  themselves  and  comfort  to  their 
riders. 

The  Park- Hack  is  generally  what  is  called  by  the  horse- 
dealers  a  "  flat-catcher,"  that  is  to  say,  he  is  a  showy  horse, 
with  an  appearance  which  will  catch  the  eye,  but  really 
worthless,  from  some  deticieucy  of  constitution  or  infirmity 
of  legs.  There  are  every  year  some  scores  of  useless  brutes 
turned  out  of  the  racing  stables  with  legs  which  will  not 
stand  a  preparation,  in  consequence  of  their  tendency  to  in- 
flame and  become  sore .  Now,  tliese  horses  are  often  unfit  for 
the  hunting-tield  from  defective  hocks,  or  from  some  peculi- 
arity of  temper  which  prevents  their  taking  to  jump.  They 
are  often  "  well  topped  " — that  is,  well  formed  about  the  head, 
neck,  and  body,  and,  to  the  inexperienced  eye,  are  very  tak- 
ing. They  also  often  have  high  action,  and  sometimes  par- 
ticularly so,  for  the  higher  it  is,  the  more  likely  to  occasion  in- 
flammation of  the  legs.  These  animals  are  put  by,  cooled 
down,  and  blistered,  and  are  then  brought  out  as  showy 
hacks,  for  the  use  of  gentlemen  who  merely  require  a  short 
constitutional  airing  every  Jin&  day  of  an  hour  or  an  hour 
and  a  half,  and,  as  tine  days  do  not  average  above  four  a 
week,  most  horses  even  of  the  most  infirm  legs  can  accom- 
plish that  amount  of  work,  if  ridden  quietly  over  hard 
ground.    Many  such  animals  are  exhibited  daily  in  Central 


BIDE    AND    DRIVE  A   HORSE. 

Park,  where  the  ground  exactly  suits  them ;  but  there  are 
others  there  also  of  the  most  perfect  description,  capable  of 
standing  as  much  work  as  any  butcher's  pony.  Neverthe- 
less, it  must  be  admitted  that  the  great  majority  of  our  mod- 
ern good-looking  hacks  are  incapable  of  doing  as  much 
work  over  hard  ground  as  the  coarser-bred  and  more  com- 
mon-looking brute  in  use  among  the  butchers  and  general 
dealers  who  attend  country  fairs  from  long  distances. 

Eastern  blood  is  a  great  advantage  in  most  respects,  and 
no  doibtwhen  the  animal  possessing  it  is  sound,  he  will  bear 
the  sliocks  of  the  road  with  impunity ;  but  there  is  no  ques- 
tion in  my  mind  that  he  fails  in  the  matter  of  enduring  daily 
concussion  on  the  road,  and  that  a  Welsh  pony  or  Norman 
horse  will  stand  nearly  twice  the  amount  of  road-work  with- 
out showing  its^ffectSe  This  is  the  weak  point  in  the  breed, 
partly  arising  from  original  want  of  size  in  the  bone  and 
joints,  but  chiefly,  I  imagine,  from  the  constant  use  of  stal- 
lions for  inferior  stock,  which  have  themselves  suffered  from 
indammation  of  the  legs  and  its  consequences;  hence,  in 
process  of  time,  a  breed  of  horses  is  formed  which  is  more 
than  naturally  delicate  about  the  legs,  because  they  have 
really  been  selected  from  that  defect,  though  only  from  neces- 
sity, and  not  from  choice. 

My  reason  for  thinking  that  the  Arab  blood  is  not  neces- 
sarily inclined  to  produce  inflammatory  joints  is,  that  in  their 
native  country  they  are  peculiarly  free  from  them,  although 
used  for  long  distances,  and  that  in  this  country  those  which 
are  bred  from  modern  Arabs  are  sound  in  their  limbs,  though 
otherwise  unfit  for  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  bred. 
Safeguard,  who  is  descended  from  the  Wellesley  Grey  Ara- 
bian, has  got  most  of  his  stock  with  particularly  wiry  legs; 
and  I  have  had  one  of  them  which  would  stand  any  amount 
of  battering  without  mischief,  oesides  knowing  others  of  the 
same  character  in  other  hands. 

Hence  I  am  led  to  conclude  that  the  cause  is  not  inherent 
in  the  blood,  but  is  accidentally  introduced  by  the  use  of  re- 
jected stallions  for  farmer's  purposes.  These  get  good-look- 
ing colts,  which  fetch  high  prices,  and  therefore  suit  the 
breeder's  purpose  just  as  well  as  the  sounder  horse,  who 
would,  perhaps,  cost  twice  as  much  for  his  services.  The 
breeder  seldom  tries  the  legs  much,  and  it  is  only  when  put 
to  work  that  the  weakness  is  discovered,  which  to  the  eye  is 
not  by  any  means  perceptible.  From  a  lonsc  experience  In 
my  own  case,  and  in  that  of  others,  I  am  convinced  that  legs 
cannot  be  selected  by  the  appearance  or  feel.  I  do  not  mean 
to  say  that  oat  of  forty  horses  the  twenty  with  the  best-looking 
legs  will  not  beat  the  others,  but  that  it  is  impossible  for  any 
judge,  however  good,  to  pronounce  with  anything  like  cor- 


HOW  TO  BREAK,     RIDE    AND    DRIVE  A  HORSE.      5 

tainty  whether  a  certain  leg  will  stand  or  not,  without  know- 
ing anything  of  the  possessor  of  it.  In  so  many  ins',ances 
have  f  seen  a  well-formed  leg  go  to  pieces  directly,  and  a  bad 
one  stand,  that  I  can  only  come  to  the  conclusion  that  no 
certain  opinion  can  be  formed  from  a  mere  inspection.  This 
is  a  great  source  of  loss  'to  the  dealer,  who  buys  his  horses 
after  a  long  rest,  and  wjth  the  le,'*s  looking  fine 'and.  sound; 
for  even  the  necessary  "showing  out"  will  make  many  give 
way^'  and  lameness  ensue  of  a  character  which  will  not  war- 
rant a  "  return,"  yet  sufficient  to  prevent  a  profitable  sale.  A 
horse  sore  from  work  is  cooled  down,  physicked,  and  put  into 
a  loose  box;  he  is  then  blistered,  and  kept  without  more  than 
quiet  exercise  till  he  is  to  be  sold,  and  by  that  time  his  legs 
are  as  tine  as  the  day  he  was  foaled.  ■ 

Now,  I  defy  any  one,  however  skillful,  to  detect  the  inhe- 
rent weakness;  but  there  it  is,  and  on  the  first  week's  severe 
work  the  inflammation  returns  as  bad  as  ever.  The  park- 
hack,  not  requiring  legs  to  stand  severe  work,  his  place  is 
well  filled  by  any  horse  of  good  temper,  safe,  and  showy  ac- 
tion, and  of  elegant  form.  Good  temper  is  necessary,  be- 
cause as  these  horses  are  not  worked  hard,  they  speedily  be- 
come unmanageable  if  they  are  naturally  of  a  vicious  disposi- 
tion. Work  will  quiet  almost  any  horse;  but  in  order  to 
have  a  horse  pleasant  to  ride  at  all  limes,  whether  fresh  or 
stale,  he  must  be  of  a  very  tractable  temper  indeed.  Many 
horses  which  will  come  out  of  the  stable,  when  fresh,  in  a 
state  of  fiery  and  hot  impatience,  rearing  and  kicking  like 
mad  animals,  will,  when  in  good  work,  be  as  quiet  as  don- 
keys; and  hence  it  is  not  always  wise  to  reject  one  showing 
these  qualities,  nor  yet  is  it  prudent  for  a  bad  horseman  to 
mount  one  without  previous  riding,  although  he  may  in  his 
usual  state  be  quiet  enough. 

There  are  two  bodily  qualities  which  every  hack  should 
possess— first,  a  good  shoulder;  and,  secondly,  a  free  use  of 
the  hind-quarter.  It  is  of  no  use  for  the  fore-!eg  to  be  well 
raised  and  thrust  forward,  unless  this  action  is  well  support- 
ed by  the  hind- leg.  No  hack  is  so  unpleasant  as  the  one 
which  lifts  his  foot  and  puts  it  down  again  nearly  in  the  same 
place.  Here  the  defect  is  in  the  hind-quarter,  which  does 
not  propel  the  body  as  the  leg  is  lifted,  and  the  consequence 
is  the  action  I  have  noticed,  in  which  the  progress,  though 
with  a  great  deal  of  bustle,  is  not  more  than  six  miles  an 
hour.  At  the  same  time,  too  long  a  stride,  either  in  the 
walk,  trot  or  gallop,  is  not  pleasant;  and  the  horse  which 
has  a  moderately  short,  quick  action  will  in  most  cases  be 
preferred.  All  this,  as  in  the  case  of  the  legs,  cannot  be 
surely  prognosticated  from  the  shape;  and  hence  the  dealer 
who  has  a  good  mover  will  always  say  to  his  customer,  find- 


6 

ing:  fault  with  the  looks  of  a  horse  in  the  stable,  "  See  him 
out,  sir,  and  you  will  liice  liim ;"  and  such  is  often  the  case. 
The  worst-looking  horse  in  the  stable  is  not  only  the  best, 
but  the  best-looking  out,  being  quite  a  different  animal  in 
action.  In  fact,  every  trial  should  be  obtained  before  pur- 
chase, for  it  is  not  until  the  riJer  has  actually  mounted  that 
tlie  good  or  bad  qualities,  in  point  of  comfort,  are  fully  de- 
veloped. 

Some  people  pretend  to  be  able  to  pick  a  hack  out  by  the 
eye  alone,  but  though  in  large  numbers  they  may  succeed 
tolerably  well,  yet  in  many  cases  they  will  be  wofully  de^ 
ceived.  The  feet  should  always  be  good,  and  with  plenty  of 
horn;  flat  soles  do  not  bear  the  road,  nor  do  contracted 
heels,  and  there  is  no  horse  which  requires  such  perfectly 
formed  feet  as  this.  The  hunter  or  race-horse  may  be  used 
when  he  could  not  get  along  at  all  on  the  road,  but  the  hack 
must  be  sound  in  this  part,  or  he  will  be  crippled  on  the  first 
])iece  of  hard  ground.  In  height  the  park-hack  usually  ranges 
from  14  to  151-2  hands;  rarely,  however,  being  much  above  15 
hands. 

The  Road-Hack  may  or  may  not  be  good-looking,  but  he 
mast  be  able  to  walk,  trot,  and  gallop  in  a  most  unexcep- 
tionable manner.  The  walk  should,  as  in  the  park-hack,  be 
safe  and  pleasant,  the  fore-foot  well  lifted,  and  deposited  on 
its  heel,  with  a  clean  action  of  the  -hind-leg,  l)y  which  it  es- 
capes "knuckling  over  "  from  being  put  down  too  soon,  or 
"  overreaching  "  from  the  opposite  extreme.  Five  miles  an 
hour  is  the  outside  walking  pace  of  a  good  hack,  and  though 
some  will  do  considerably  more,  it  is  seldom  by  anything  but 
a  kind  of  shuffle,  which  is  not  pleasant  to  the  rider,  nor 
elegant  to  the  spectator.  The  trot  should  be.  of  that  charac- 
ter that  it  may  be  brought  down  to  eight  miles  an  hour,  or 
extended  to  fourteen;  and  this  is  the  perfection  of  the  pace, 
for  few  horses  can  do  both  well,  being  either  too  close  to  the 
ground  in  the  former  for  safety,  or  too  set  and  lofty  in  their 
action  for  the  latter. 

No  defect  is  worse  than  the  unsafe  action,  which  results 
from  a  weakness  of  the  extensor  muscles  of  the  arm,  and  in 
which  the  action  is  pretty  good  as  long  as  the  horse  is  not 
tired,  but  after  a  few  miles  the  leg  is  not  lifted  with  power 
enough,  and  the  toe  is  constantly  striking  against  some 
inequality  of  the  ground,  from  xchich  it  is  not  recovered.- 
This  marks  the  defect:  for  it  must  not  be  confounded  with 
habitual  stumbling,  which  is  as  likely  to  occur  at  starting  as 
at  any  other  time,  and  which  is  always  easily  detected  by 
watching  the  mode  of  putting  down  thw  foot  in  the  naturally 
unsafe  trotter,  where  the  toe  touches  the  ground  first,  and 
the  heel  then  follows,  as  is  evidenced  by  the  state  of  the  tip 


HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HOUSE.      7 

of  the  shoe.  Here  a  Irip  may  occur  often,  and  yet  no  full 
occur,  because  the  extensors  are  strong,  and  efl'ect  a  recovery 
after  the  mischief  has  been  jiearly  done.  But  when  the  ex- 
tensors are  weak,  the  toe,  which  has  been  well  raised  at  first, 
after  a  few  miles  touches  tlie  ground,  and  7iot  being  rapidly 
recovered,  a  faU  ensues  of  the  most  severe  character.  For 
this  reason  it  is  necessary  to  ride  a  horse  some  distance  be- 
fore his  action  can  be  pronounced  upon,  and  only  then  can 
it  be  said  that  he  is  tit  for  a  timid  or  bad  rider.  It  is,  1  urn 
sure,  the  height  of  absurdity  to  recommend  this  or  that  shape 
as  being  necessary.  Hacks  go  in  all  shapes,  and  though 
ol)lique  shoulders  may  be  desiral)le,  yet  many  a  good  hack  is 
witiiout  tiiem.  Action  is  the  sine  qua  non,  united  to  stout- 
ness, temper,  and  soundness  both  of  wind  and  limb,  as  well 
as  of  the  eyes.  A  horse  with  a  thick  loaded  shoulder  often 
makes  a  good  hack,  while  a  very  thin  one  is  seldom  tit  for 
long  journeys.  One  point  about  the  shoulder  is  very  desir- 
able— namely,  the  proper  development  of  the  broad  part  of 
the  blade,  without  which  there  is  nothing  to  hold  back  the 
saddle,  and  the  rider  is  far  too  much  over  his  horse's  neck. 

The  gallop  in  this  kind  of  riding  horse  is  not  so  important 
as  the  trot  una  walk,  but  it  should  be  true— that  is  to  say,  it 
should  be  as  high  before  as  behind;  for,  in  default  of  this 
proper  balance  between  the  fore" and  hind  quarter,  the  amount 
of  fatigue  is  greatly  increased.  But  as,  in  the  present  state 
of  our  roads,  the  gallop  ought  not  to  be  persisted  in  for 
many  miles,  so  it  is  of  less  consequence  than  the  trot,  which 
is,  or  should  be,  the  regular  pace  on  hard  ground.  The  can- 
ter IS  not  much  used  by  gentlemen,  being  more  tit  for  ladies, 
as  it  rapidly  wears  out  the  leading  leg  when  much  weight  is 
carried.  A  cantering  hack,  therefore,  is  not  much  sought 
after  for  any  but  ladies'  service.  The  hard  gallop  is  usually 
about  fifteen  or  sixteen  miles  an  hour,  and  the  sides  of  the 
road  should  always  be  selected. 

In  the  mode  of  Procuring  there  is  little  choice,  few  peo- 
ple who  use  hacks  having  the  opportunity  of  breeding  them; 
nor  if  they  had  the  necessary  land,  etc.,  would  they  find  it 
answer. 

The  hack  is  a  mongrel  animal,  and  can  seldom  be  bred 
with  certainty,  because,  as  now  used,  he  is  an  exceptional 
case,  being  nothing  but  an  accidentally  small  hunter  or  race- 
horse. Heno«,  if  a  hack  mare  is  bred  from,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  rearing  a  hack,  the  chances  are  that  she  produces  an 
animal  as  high  as  hor  mother,  who  was  probably  a  slapping 
huntress. 

Our  hacks  are  now  all  bred  from  the  thoroughbred  horse, 
crossed  with  some  harness  or  hunting  mare,  generally  the 
latter;  and,  as  these  are  now  of  blood  consisting  almost  en- 


8        HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

tirely  of  that  of  the  thorouo:hl)red  horse,  the  hack  is  even 
more  pure  than  his  dam ;  bat  still  a  mongrel,  and  often  with 
a  cross  of  Welsh  or  Norman  blood,  which  renders  him  hardy, 
but  still  more  mongrel  or  impure. 

Purchase,  Uierefore,  is  the  only  mode  open  to  the  intended 
horseman,  and  there  are  plenty  of  dealers  throughout  the 
kingdom  where  these  animals  may  be  procured,  independently 
of  the  numerous  fairs  held  in  our  provincial  towns.  A  re- 
spectable dealer's  stable  is  the  best  mart, and  far  better  than  a 
fair,  where  no  good  trial  can  be  had;  and  the  horse  being 
made  ap  for  a  particular  time  can  be  more  easily  made  to 
take  in  a  customer.  Iq  the  dealer's  stable  no  notice  is  given, 
and  he  cannot  be  always  prepared  for  deception.  Besides,  it 
is  much  mere  difficult  to  detect  unsoundness  of  the  eyes  in  the 
open  air  than  at  the  stable-door,  and  many  lame  horscis  also 
are  rendered  for  the  time  quite  sound  by  constantly  keeping 
them  going  up  and  down  a  fair.  Spav:ns  are  particularly 
likely  to  be  passed  over  in  this  way,  as  well  as  broken  wind, 
which  may  be  to  a  certain  extent  made  up  by  artificial  means. 

But  hacks  at  the  hammer  is  a  complete  lottery,  for  they 
may  be  very  unpleasant  to  ride,  although  with  all  the  appear- 
ance of  going  smoothly  and  safely.  Harness  horses  may  be 
bought  with  far  more  certainty  in  tliis  way,  but  those  which 
I  am  now  considering  require  such  very  perfect  action,  that 
they  cannot  be  calculated  on  except  by  a  trial  in  the  saddle. 
Neither  can  the  mouth  be  examined  with  reference  to  the  bit, 
although  the  age  can  be  ascertained  with  tolerable  precision. 
A  tender  mouth  is  a  great  advantage,  and  its  opposite  aa 
great  a  nuisance;  5'et  this  cannot  be  discovered  in  this  mode 
of  dealing,  and  therefore  I  should  advise  its  adoption  with 
great  reluctance. 

THE    ACCOUTERMEXTS   AND   AIDS 

Required  are  a  saddle,  bridle,  and  a  whip  or  stick;  the 
latter  should  be  either  a  straight  whip  like  that  used  in  rac- 
ing, or  a  common  short  walking-stick,  or  a  short  cane  with  a 
handle,  sold  for  the  purpose.^ 

Spurs  are  not  commonly  used  in  hacking  unless  the  horse 
is  sluggish,  but  some  are  never  to  be  depended  upon  with- 
out this  stimulus.  They  are  sometimes  so  indolent  as  to 
stumble  at  every  few  yards  without  the  spur,  but  on  the 
slightest  touch  they  are  all  alive,  anu  their  action  changes  in 
a  moment.  With  such  animals  the  spur  should  always  be 
worn,  though  it  need  seldom  be  used. 

MOUNTING   AND   DISMOUNTING. 

The  directions  for  these,  the  preliminary  feats  of  horse- 
manship, are  generally  given  as  if  all  horses  were  of  moc'.er- 
ate  height,  and  all  men  six  feet  in  their  stockings. 

r 


HOW  TO  BREAK,  RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE.   9 

Stand  opposite  the  near  fore-foot  of  the  horse,  place  tlie  left 
huiul  on  the  neck  near  to  the  withers,  having  tl:e  back  of  the 
hand  to  the  horse's  head,  and  the  reins  l^ing  in  front  of  the 
hand. 

Take  up  the  rehis  with  the  right  hand,  put  the  Uttle  finger 
ol  the  left  hand  between  iheni,  and  draw  them  through  until 
you  feel  tlie  mouth  of  the  horse;  turn  the  remainder  of  the 
reins  along  the  inside  of  the  left  hand,  let  it  fall  over  the  fore- 
finger on  the  oil' side,  and  place  Ue  thumb  upon  the  reins. 

Twist  a  lock  of  the  mane  round  the  thumb  or  forefinger, 
and  close  the  hand  firmly  upon  the  reins. 

Take  the  stirrup  in  the  right  hand,  and  place  the  left  toe 
in  it  as  far  as  the  ball;  let  the  knee  press  agamst  the  flap  of 
the  saddle,  to  prevent  the  point  of  the  toe  from  initating  the 
sido  of  tlie  horse;  seize  the  cantle  of  the  saddle  with  the  right 
hand,  and  springing  up  from  the  right  toe,  ilirow  the  rioht 
leg  clear  over  the  horse,  coming  gently  into  tiie  saddle  by 
staying  the  weight  of  the  body  wiih  ihe  right  hand  resting  on 
the  right  side  of  the  pommel  of  the  saddle;  put  the  right  toe 
in  the  stirrup. 

Now  this  is  in  the  main  applicable  to  a  man  of  five  feet  ten 
inches,  or  six  feel,  but  to  a  shorter  individual  attempting  to 
mount  a  horse  of  fifteen  hands,  three  inches,  it  is  an  imj»os3i- 
bility,  simply  because  he  cannot  reach  the  cantle  from  the 
same  position  which  enables  him  to  hold  the  stirrup  in  the 
left  hand.  This  is  also  wrong,  in  my  opinion,  in 
directing  that  the  body  should  be  raised  into  the  sadille 
directly  from  the  ground,  with  one  movement.  This  will  al- 
\\ays  bring  the  rider  down  into  the  saddle  with  a  very  awk- 
ward jerk;  and  the  proper  direction  is  to  raise  the  body 
straight  up  till  both  feel  are  on  a  level  with  the  stirrup-iron, 
and  Ihen  with  the  left  leg  held  against  the  flap  of  the  saddle 
ly  Ihe  left  hand  on  the  pom.mel.  the  right  leg  is  easily  thrown 
over  the  cantle,  and  the  body  may  be  kept  in  the  first  posi- 
tion until  the  horse  is  quiet,  if  he  is  plunging  or  rearing.  A 
short  man  can  generally  [dace  his  foot  in  the  stirrup  while 
held  in  his  hand,  but  it  should  be  known  that  all  cannot  do 
this,  because  I  have  seen  young  riders  much  vexed  at  finding 
that  they  could  not  possibly  do  what  is  directed. 

Most  of  our  writers  oc  horsemanship  are  of  the  military 
school,  and  endeavor  to  cut  every  one's  cloth  by  their  own 
coate.  They  are  able  to  do  certain  things  easily,  and  so  are 
their  men,  because  they  are  mostly  of  the  height  already 
specified;  but  as  sportsmen  and  civil  equestrians  are  of  all 
heights,  I  shall  endeavor  to  accommodate  my  remarks  to  all 
heights  and  classes. 

In  all  cases  the  rider  should  stand  at  the  shoulder,  though 
with  a  short  man  it  is  much  easier  to  mount  a  tall  horse  from 


10      HOW  TO  BREAK,   RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

the  hind-quarter,  but  the  danger  of  kicking  is  very  great; 
and  even  in  mounting  with  a  "leg,"  in  the  jockey  style,  I 
have  known  the  thigh  very  nearly  broken  by  a  kick. 

If  the  hand  can  steady  the  stirrup  it  should  do  so,  but  if 
the  person  is  too  short,  it  can  be  placed  in  the  istlrrup  with- 
out its  aid;  then  taking  the  reins  between  the  lingers,  much 
as  directed  in  the  passage  already  quoted,  and  grasping  a 
lock  of  the  mane  with  the  tinger  and  thumb,  ilie  body  is 
raised  till  the  right  foot  is  brought  to  a  level  with  tl>e  left, 
when  the  right  hand  seizes  the  canile,  and  with  the  left 
grasping  the  pommel,  the  body  is  steadied  for  a  sliort  time, 
which,  in  the  ordinary  mount,  is  almost  imperceptible,  but 
in  a  fidgety  horse  is  sonittimes  of  considerable  length.  The 
leg  is  now  thrown  gonily  over  the  saddle,  and  as  it  reaches 
the  hand  tlie  latter  is  withdrawn,  after  wiiich  the  body  sinks 
into  the  saddle  in  an  easy  and  graceful  manner.  The  right 
foot  is  then  placed  in  the  stirrup,  with  or  without  the  aid  of 
the  right  hand  holding  it. 

Dismounting  is  elTected  by  first  bringing  the  horse  to  a 
stand-still;  then  shorten  the  left  hand  on  thejreins  till  it  lies 
on  the  withers,  with  a  steady  feel  of  the  mouth,  twist  a  lock 
of  the  mane  on  the  finger,  and  hold  it  with  the  reins;  bearing 
also  on  the  pommel  with  the  heel  of  tl)e  hand.  Next,  throw 
the  right  foot  out  of  the  stirrup,  and  lift  the  body,  steadied 
by  the  left  hand,  and  borne  by  the  left  foot,  until  it  is  rtiised 
out  of  the  saddle;  throw  gently  the  ri<rht  leg  over  the  cantle, 
and  as  it  passes  it  grasp  this  part  with  the  right  hand;  then 
lower  the  body  gently  to  the  ground  by  the  aid  of  the  two 
hands  and  the  left  foot;  or,  if  it  is  a  very  short  person  and  a 
tall  horse,  by  raising  the  t)ody  out  of  the  stirrup  on  the 
hands,  and  dropping  to  the  ground  by  their  aid  alone. 

Mounting  without  Stirrups,  while  the  horse  is  standing 
still,  is  effected  as  followsr 

The  rider  stands  opposite  the  saddle  and  takes  hold  of  both 
the  pommel  and  'he  cantle,  keeping  the  reina  in  the  h>ft 
hand  at  the  same  time,  and  in  the  same  manner  as  in  ordi- 
narv  mounting. 

Now  springstrongly  from  the  ground;  and  by  means  of 
the  spring,  aided  by  the  arms,  raise  the  body  above  the  sad- 
dle; then  twist  the  leg  over,  while  the  right  hand  is  shifted 
to  the  right  side  of  the  pommel,  and  by  means  of  both  the 
hands  the  body  is  steadied  into  the  saddle. 

Mounting  without  Stirrups  may,  by  very  active  men,  be 
eflected  while  the  horse  is  going  on,  much  in  the  same  way 
as  is  seen  constantly  in  the  circus. 

The  rider  runs  by  the  side  of  the  horse,  laying  hold  of  the 
pommel  of  the  saddle  with  both  hands  strongly,  and  allowing 


RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE.      11 

liim  to  drag  him  along  for  two  or  three  very  long  steps,  h® 
suddenly  springs  from  the  ground  and  is  drawn  into  the 
saddle. 

This  feat  is  seldom  achieved  by  the  ordinary  equestrian, 
but  it  is  easier  than  it  looks,  and  in  riding  to  hounds  is  some- 
times of  great  service  with  a  tidgety  horse. 

Dismounting  without  Stirrups  requires  the  horse  to  be 
brought  to  a  stand-still;  then,  holding  the  reins  in  the  left 
hand,  both  are  placed  upon  the  pommel,  and  by  their  aid 
alone  the  body  is  raised  out  of  the  saddle.  The  right  leg  is 
now  thrown  over  the  cantle,  and  in  doing  so  the  right  hand 
seizes  it,  and  with  the  left  lowers  the  body  to  the  ground. 

Mounting  and  Dismounting  on  the  ofl  side  merely  require 
all  the  movements  to  be  reversed,  and,  reading  left  for  right 
and  right  for  left,  all  the  directions  previously  given  are  ap- 
plicable. 

It  is  very  useful  sometimes  to  be  able  to  effect  this,  as  some 
horses  with  defective  e^'ts  will  more  readily  allow  mounting 
on  the  off  side  than  on  the  left. 

MANAGEMENT   OF    THE    SEAT    AND    REINS. 

The  Seat  is  the  first  thing  to  be  settled,  and  it  should  al- 
ways be  fixed  before  anything  else  is  done — that  is,  as  soon 
as  the  body  is  placed  in  the  saddle. 

There  are  four  things  necessary  to  be  attended  to — first, 
the  position  of  the  weight,  so  as  to  be  sufficiently  forward  in 
the  saddle;  secondly,  the  fixing  of  the  knees  on  the  padded 
part  of  the  flap;  thirdly,  the  proper  length  and  position  of 
the  stirrups;  and  fourthly,  the  carriage  of  the  body. 

The  weight  of  the  body  should  be  well  forward,  because 
the  center  of  motion  is  close  to  the  middle  of  the  saddle; 
and  as  the  wei4;ht  is  chiefly  thrown  upon  the  breech,  if  the 
seat  is  far  back  it  is  not  in  that  part,  but  near  the  cantle  that 
it  is  placed.  But  by  silting  well  forward  the  weight  is  dis- 
^tributed  between  the  breech,  thighs,  and  feet;  and  the  horse 
is  able  to  rise  and  fall  in  his  gallop  without  disturbing  his 
rider.  The  knees  must  be  well  forward  to  eftect  this  seat, 
and  also  well  in  front  of  the  stirrup-leathers;  for  if  they  are 
placed  behind  them  the  body  is  thrown  too  far  back  and  the 
hold  is  insecure. 

The  object  of  all  young  riders  should  be  to  get  as  far  for- 
ward as  possible,  so  that  the  knee  is  not  ofl' the  saddle;  and 
they  can  scarcely  overdo  this  part  of  the  lesson  by  any  effort 
in  their  power.  Riding  well  upon  the  fork,  with  the  knees 
upon  the  padded  part  of  the  flap,  will  insure  a  good  position 
if  the  stirrups  are  not  too  short.  These  should  be  about  the 
length  which  will  touch  the  projecting  ankle-bone  when  the 
legs  are  placed  as  above  directed,  but  out  of  the  stirrups;  and 


12  HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND   DRIVE   A  HoRSE. 

when  they  are  nlaced  in  them,  the  heel  should  be  about  one 
inch  and  a  half  below  the  ball  of  the  foot.  This  latter  part  re- 
ceives the  pressure  of  the  stirrup  in  road-riding,  but  in  hunting, 
or  any  other  kind  of  field-riding,  the  foot  is  thrust  "  home," 
and  the  stirrup  touches  the  instep,  while  the  pressure  is  taken 
by  tiie  under  part  of  the  arch  of  the  foot.  The  reason  of 
this  is,  that  in  leaping,  the  pressure  on  the  stirrup  is  almost 
lost;  and  if  the  toe  only  is  placed  witi)in  it,  the  foot  is  con- 
stantly coming  out.  Besides  this,  in  the  gallop,  the  attitude 
is  of  that  nature  that  the  spring  of  the  instep  is  not  wanted, 
the  weight  being  too  much  thrown  upon  tlie  foot,  if  stand- 
ing in  the  stirrups;  and  if  sitting  down  in  the  saddle,  the 
feet  should  scarcely  press  upon  the  stirrups  at  all,  and  there- 
fore the  best  place  for  them  is  where  they  will  be  most  secure. 
The  body  should  be  carried  easily,  balancing  backward  and 
forward  or  sideways,  as  required,  but  not  forcibly.  Instinct 
is  here  the  best  guide,  and  the  rider  should  follow  its  precepts 
rather  than  attempt  to  adopt  any  preconceived  rule.  If  the 
horse  rears,  he  will  feel  called  upon  by  nature  to  lean  forward, 
ajid  may  even  grasp  the  neck  if  needful,  or  anything  but  the 
bridle,  which  will  only  bring  the  horse  back  upon  him. 
The  body  should  not  be  held  stiffly  upright,  but,  short  of  this, 
it  can  scarcely  be  too  still,  the  loins  being  slightly  arched 
forward.  The  legs  also  should  be  as  motionless  as  possible, 
and  nearly  perpendicular  from  the  knee  downwards;  but,  if 
anything,  a  little  forward,  the  heel  being  well  depressed,  and 
the  toes  very  slightly  turned  outwards.  The  shoulders  should 
always  be  square— that  is,  at  right  angles  to  the  road  taken ; 
and,  whether  trotting  or  galloping,  neither  of  them  should  be 
advanced  before  the  other. 

The  Reins  are  to  be  taken  up  as  soon  as  the  seat  is  settled, 
and  during  that  operation,  with  a  younir  horseman,  the  horse 
should  be  held  quiet  by  the  groom,  who  stands  on  the  ofl'side 
with  both  the  snaffle-reins  in  his  right  hand;  or,  if  the  horse 
is  veiy  fidgety,  he  may  stand  in  front  of  him,  with  a  snaffle- 
rein  in  each  hand;  and  this  almost  always  keeps  quiet  any 
but  a  thoroughly  vicious  horse.  The  groom  should  also  hold 
the  right  stirrup  for  the  rider  to  place  his  foot  in.  In  gather- 
ing the  reins  up  they  are  first  raised  by  the  right  hand,  and 
then  placed  in  the  left. 

The  Single  Rein  is  held  by  placing  all  but  the  forefinger 
between  the  reins,  and  then  turning  them  over  that  finger  to- 
ward the  ofT  side,  they  are  held  firmly  between  it  and  the 
thumb.  By  this  mode  the  hand  has  only  to  be  opened,  and 
the  ends  of  the  rein  may  be  laid  hold  of  by  the  right  hand,  to 
enable  the  left  to  shorten  its  grasp.  When  the  hand  is  thus 
closed  upon  the  rein,  the  thumb  should  be  pointed  to  the 


How  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE.      l3 

liorae's  ears,  the  lillle  finger  near  upon  the  pommel  of  the 
saddle,  and  the  elbow  close  to  the  side,  which  last  is  a  neces- 
sary consequence  of  the  above  position  of  the  hand;  so  ihat 
the  equestrian  has  only  to  look  to  his  part,  and  see  that  Die 
thumb  points  to  the  ears,  with  the  little  finger  down  on  the 
pommel,  and  he  may  be  quite  sure  that  his  elbow  is  right. 

With  the  single  rein  the  management  of  the  mouth  is  easy 
enough;  nevertheless,  tliere  are  various  directions  for  the 
purpose  adopted  in  different  schools,  which  are  dependent 
upon  altogether  conflicting  principles.  Every  tyro  knows 
that  the  horse  turns  to  the  left  by  pulling  the  left  rein,  and 
to  the  right  by  pulling  the  opposite  one;  and  the  problem  to 
be  solved  is,  to  do  this  by  one  hand  only.  Now  this  in  the 
single  rein  is  easily  effected  by  raising  the  thumb  toward  the 
right  shoulder,  wlieu  the  right  rein  is  to  be  pulled,  or  by 
drawmg  the  little  finger  toward  the  fork  for  the  left;  in  both 
cases  by  a  turn  of  the  wrist  without  lifting  the  whole  hand. 

But  over  and  above  this  action  on  the  mouth,  and 
in  many  cases  independent  of  it,  is  a  movement  which,  in 
trained  horses,  is  capable  of  much  greater  delicacy,  and  which 
depends  upon  the  sensibility  of  the  skin  of  the  neck  for  its 
due  performance.  It  is  effected  by  turning  the  whole  hand 
to  the  right  or  left  without  any  wrist  action,  so  as  to  press  the 
right  rein  against  the  neck,  in  order  to  cause  a  turn  to  the 
left,  and  the  left  rein  against  the  neck,  for  the  opi)osite  pur- 
pose; at  the  same  time  rather  slackening  the  reins,  so  as  not 
to  bear  upon  the  moulh  by  so  doing.  In  this  way  a  horse 
may  be  "  cantered  round  a  cabbage-leaf,"  as  the  dealers  say, 
with  a  much  greater  degree  of  nicety  and  smoothness  than  by 
acting  on  the  corner  of  his  mouth.  But  highly  broken  horses, 
such  as  the  military  troop  horses,  are  often  too  much  used  to 
their  bits  to  answer  to  this  slight  and  delicate  manipulation. 

I  am  well  aware  that  some  horses  can  never  be  taught  it, 
but  must  always  have  the  bearing  on  the  mouth  before  they 
will  turn;  yet  when  it  can  be  taught,  it  makes  the  animal 
so  tractable  and  agreeable  to  ride  that  it  is  a  highly  desirable 
accomplishment;  and  1  cannot,  therefore,  join  in, condemn- 
ing its  use,  but  should  rejoice  if  it  could  in  all  cases  be  fully 
developed. 

The  Double-Rein  is  held  in  two  ways,  but  the  best,  in  my 
opinion,  is  as  follows: 

First  take  up  the  snaffle-rein,  and  place  it  as  before,  except 
that  the  left  rein  is  to  be  between  the  ring  and  middle  fin- 
gers; then  raise  the  curb-rein,  and  hook  it  on  to  the  little 
finger,  where  it  may  be  either  left  for  use  when  wanted,  or  at 
once  drawn  over  the  forefinger  to  the  proper  degree  of  tight- 
ness, and  pressed  down  upon  it  by  the  thumb;  in  which  case 
the  reins  should  all  fall  over  the  off  side  of  the  horse.   By  this 


14  HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRH'^  A  HoRSE. 

mode  the  curb-rein  is  always  at  the  command  of  the  rigbt 
hand,  an^^  it  may  be  shortened  or  let  out  in  a  moment,  which 
is  of  constant  occurrence  in  every  day^'s  ride.  The  hand  is 
held  as  before,  with  the  thumb  pointing  to  the  horse's  ears; 
in  turning,  however,  there  is  much  less  power  of  bearing  on 
either  side  of  the  bit  by  raising  the  thumb  or  lowering  tlie  lit- 
tle finger,  because  the  distance  between  the  snaffle-reins  is 
only  half  what  it  was,  and  therefore  the  mode  of  turning  by 
pressure  upor  the  neck  is  doubly  desirable;  and  hence  its 
constant  adoption  in  all  cases  where  doubled-reined  bridles 
are  used,  as  in  the  field  and  on  the  road. 

Sometimes,  to  obviate  this  objection,  the  snaffle-reins  are 
placed  as  in  tlie  single-reined  bridle,  outside  the  little  finger, 
and  then  the  curb  is  hooked  over  tlie  ring-finger,  between  the 
snaffle-reins,  so  as  to  allow  of  the  full  manipulation  of  the 
mouth  by  the  hand,  without  bearing  upon  the  neck. 

But  the  objection  to  this  is  that  the  curb  cannot  be  shorten- 
ed without  releasing  the  snaffle,  and  therefore  the  horse  must 
either  be  ridden  on  the  curb  alone,  while  this  process  is  be- 
ing effected,  or  his  head  must  be  loosed  altogether,  whereas 
in  the  other  mode  his  mouth  is  still  under  the  control  of  the 
snaffle  all  the  time  that  the  curb  is  being  let  out  or  taken  in. 

THE    ORDINARY   PACES. 

The  Walk  is  a  perfectly  natural  pace  to  the  horse,  but  it  is 
somewhat  altered  by  use,  being  quicker  and  smarter  than  be- 
fore breaking,  and  with  the  hind-legs  more  brought  under  the 
body  in  the  perfect  hack. 

In  this  pace  the  head  should  not  be  too  much  confined,  and 
yet  the  rider  should  not  entirely  leave  it  uncontrolled:  the 
finest  possible  touch  is  enough,  so  that  on  any  trip  the  hand 
is  at  once  informed  of  it  by  the  drop  of  the  head,  when  by  a 
sudden  jerk  of  the  bridle.  Lot  too  forcible,  it  rouses  the  horse 
and  prevents  his  falling.  It  is  not  that  he  is  kept  up  by  pull- 
ing the  rein,  but  that  he  is  roused  by  it  and  made  to  exert 
himself,  for  many  horses  seem  regardless  of  falls,  and  would 
be  down  twenty  times  a-day  if  they  were  not  stimulated  by 
the  heel  and  bit.  Confinement  of  the  head  in  the  walk  is 
absolutely  injurious,  and  more  frequently  causes  a  fall  than 
saves  one. 

A  good  walker  will  go  on  nodding  his  head  to  each  step, 
more  or  less  as  it  is  a  long  or  a  short  one;  and  if  this  nod- 
ding is  prevented  by  the  heavy  hand  of  the  rider,  the  fore-foot 
is  not  properly  stretched  forward,  the  step  is  crippled,  and 
very  often  the  toe  strikes  the  ground ;  when  if  the  head  were 
Rt  liberty,  it  would  clear  it  well.  In  horses  wliich  are  apt  to 
stumble  on  the  walk,  I  have  generally  found  that  a  loose 
rein,  with  the  curb  held  ready  for  a  check,  is  the  safest  plan; 


HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE.      15 

and  then  the  horse  soon  finds  that  he  is  punished  the  moment 
he  slUHibies,  and  in  a  very  short  lime  he  learns  to  recover 
himself  almost  before  lie  is  reminded.  I  do  not  like  the  spur 
or  the  whip  so  well  because  the  use  of  either  makes  the  horse 
spring  forward,  and  often  blunder  again  in  his  hurry  to  avoid 
this  kind  of  punishment.  The  check  of  the  curb,  on  the  other 
hand,  makes  him  recover  himself  without  extra  progress,  or 
rather  by  partially  stopping  liim,  and  thus  he  is  better  able  to 
avoid  his  fall,  the  body  is  allowed  to  yield  slightly  to  the 
motions  of  the  horse,  but  not  to  waddle  from  side  to  side,  as 
is  sometimea  seen. 

Some  liorses  do  not  stir  the  rider  at  all,  while  others  throw 
him  about  and  fatigue  him  greatly;  and  this  may  generally 
be  foretold  when  the  tail  sways  much  from  side  to  side  in 
the  walk,  which  is  caused  by  the  over-long  stride  of  the  horse, 
a  very  desirable  accomplishment  in  the  race-horse  or  hunter, 
but  not  in  the  hack. 

The  Trot  is  altogether  an  acquired  pace,  and  in  the  natu- 
ral state  it  is  never  seen  for  more  than  a  few  yards  at  a  time. 
In  it  the  fore  and  hind-legs  of  opposite  sides  move  together, 
and  are  taken  up  and  put  down  exactly  at  the  same  moment. 

To  Start  a  Horse  in  the  Trot,  take  hold  of  both  the  reins 
of  the  snaffle,  and  bear  tirmly,  buL  steadily,  upon  the  mouth, 
lean  slighily  forward  in  the  saddle,  press  the  legs  against  the 
horse's  sides,  and  use  the  peculiar  click  of  the  tongue,  which 
serves  as  an  encouragement  to  the  liorse  on  all  occasions.  If 
properly  broken,  he  will  now  fail  at  once  into  the  trot,  but  if 
he  breaks  into  a  canter  or  gallop  he  must  be  checked,  and 
restrained  into  a  walk  or  a  verv  slow  trot,  called  a  "  iog- 
trot." 

In  some  cases  a  horse  can  canter  as  slow  as  he  walks,  and 
here  there  is  often  great  difficulty  in  making  him  trot,  for  no 
restraint  short  of  a  total  halt  will  prevent  the  canter.  Iq 
such  cases,  laying  hold  of  an  ear  will  often  succeed,  by  mak- 
ing the  animal  drop  his  head,  which  movement  interferes 
with  tl'.e  canter,  and  generally  leads  to  a -trot. 

Rising  in  the  Stirrups  with  the  trot  is  generally  prac- 
ticed in  civil  life,  as  being  far  less  fatiguing  to  both  horse  and 
rider,  but  in  the  military  schools  the  opposite  style  is  inculca- 
ted, because  among  a  troop  of  horse  it  has  a  very  bad  eflect 
when  a  number  of  men  are  bobbing  up  and  down,  out  of  all 
time.  If  it  were  possible  for  all  to  rise  together,  perhaps 
the  oflense  against  military  precision  might  be  pardoned;  but 
as  horses  will  not  all  step  together,  so  the  men  cannot  all 
rise  at  the  same  moment,  and  the  consequence  is  that  they 
are  doomed  to  bump  upon  the  sheep-skins  in  a  very  tiresome 
manner,  fatiguing  alike  to  man  and  horse. 


16   HOW  TO   BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A   HORSE. 


The  civilian's  mode  is  as  followa:  At  the  precise  moment 
when  the  hind  and  fore-legs  are  making  their  eflfort  to  throw 
the  horse  forward  in  progression,  the  oody  of  tlie  rider  is 
thrown  forcibly  into  the  air,  in  some  horses  to  so  gre»t  an 
extent  as  to  make  a  young  rider  feel  as  if  he  never  should 
come  down  again.  After  reaching  the  utmost  height,  iiow- 
ever,  the  body  falls,  and  reaches  the  saddle  just  in  time  to 
catch  the  next  effort,  and  so  on  as  long  as  the  trot  lasts.  In 
this  way  the  horse  absolutely  carries  no  weight  at  all  during 
half  his  time,  and  the  action  and  reaction  are  of  such  a  nat- 
ure that  the  trot  is  accelerated  rather  than  retarded  by  tlie 
weight.  No  horse  can  fairly  trot  above  12  or  13  miles  an 
hour  without  this  rising,  though  he  may  run  or  pace  it,  so 
that  it  is  not  only  to  save  the  rider's  bones,  l)ut  also  to  ease 
the  h'^rse,  that  this  practice  has  been  introduced,  and  has 
held  its  ground  in  spite  of  the  want  of  military  sanction.  It 
is  here  as  with  the  seat,  utility  is  sacrificed  to  appearances; 
and  whenever  the  long  and  weak  seat  of  the  barrack -yard 
supplants  tiie  firm  seat  of  the  civilian,  I  shall  expect  to  see 
the  rising  In  the  trot  abandoned,  but  certainly  not  till 
then. 

The  military  length  is  not  now  what  it  was  thirty  years 
ago,  and  perhaps,  some  time  or  other,  they  may  adopt  the 
rise,  but  I  am  afraid  not  until  they  liave  produced  many 
thousands  more  sore  backs  than  they  need  have  done  if  they 
had  never  adopted  it.  In  the  trot,  the  foot  sliould  bear 
strongly  on  the  stirrup,  with  the  heel  well  down,  and  the 
ball  of  the  foot  pressing  on  the  foot-piece  of  the  stirrup,  so 
that  the  elasticity  of  the  ankle  takes  ofl  the  jar,  and  prevents 
the  double  rise,  which  in  some  rough  horses  is  very  apt  to  be 
produced.  The  knees  should  always  be  maintained  exactly 
in  the  same  place,  without  that  shifting  motion  which  is  so 
common  with  bad  riders,  and  the  legs  should  be  held  per- 
pendicularly from  the  knee  downward;  the  chest  well  for- 
ward, the  waist  in,  and  the  rise  nearly  upright,  but  slightly 
forward,  and  as  easily  as  can  be  efliected,  without  effort  on 
the  part  of  the  rider,  and  rather  restraining  than  adding  to 
the  throw  of  the  horse. 

The  Military  Style,  without  rising,  i|  effected  by  leaving 
the  body  as  much  as  possible  to  find  its  own  level.  The 
knees  should  not  cling  to  the  saddle,  the  foot  should  not 
press  forcibly  on  the  stirrup,  and  the  hands  should  not  bear 
upon  the  bridle. 

By  attending  to  these  negative  directions,  the  rider  hns 
only  to  lean  very  slightly  back  from  the  perpend'cular,  and 
preserve  his  balance,  when  practice  will  do  all  the  rest. 

The  Canter  is  even  more  than  the  trot  an  unnatural  and 
artificial  pace.     It  can  very  seldom  be  taught  without  setting 


HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE.      17 

a  horse  much  upon  his  haunches,  and  very  rarely,  indeed, 
without  the  use  of  the  curb-rein.  It  is  a  pace  in  vvliich  all 
tlie  legs  are  lifted  and  set  down  one  after  the  other  in  the 
most  methodical  manner;  the  near  or  oil"  fore-leg  leading  ofl', 
as  the  case  may  be,  but  one  foot  being  always  in  contact  with 
the  ground. 

To  Start  the  Canter  with  either  Leg,  it  is  necessary 
to  pull  the  opposite  rein,  and  press  the  opposite  heel. 

The  reason  of  this  is  obvious  enough ;  every  horse  in  start- 
ing to  canter  (and  many  even  in  the  canter  itself),  turns  him- 
self slightly  across  his  line  of  progress,  in  order  to  enable 
him  to  lead  with  that  leg  which  he  thereby  advances.  Thus, 
supposing  a  ho'rse  is  going  to  lead  ofl'with  tlie  ofl  fore-leg,  he 
turns  his  head  to  the  left  and  his  croup  to  the  right,  and  then 
easily  gets  his  off-leg  before,  and  his  near  leg  behind  into  the 
line  which  is  being  taken,  Now,  to  compel  him  to  repeat 
this  action,  it  is  only  necessary  to  turn  him  in  the  same  way, 
by  pulling  his  head  to  the  left,"^  and  by  touching  him  with  the 
left  heel,  after  which  he  is  made  to  canter  by  excitmg  him 
with  the  voice  or  whip,  wliile  at  the  same  moment  he  is  re- 
strained by  the  curb.  When  once  this  lead  is  commenced, 
the  hold  on  the  curb  and  pressure  on  the  legs  may  be  quite 
equal;  but  if,  while  the  canter  is  maintained,  it  is  desired  to 
change  the  leading  leg,  the  horse  must  be  collected  and 
roused  by  the  bit  and  voice,  and  then,  reversing  the  pull  of 
the  reins  and  the  leg-pressure  from  that  previously  practiced, 
-so  as  to  turn  the  horse  in  the  opposite  way  to  that  in  wliich 
he  was  started,  he  will  generally  be  compelled  to  change  his 
lead,  which  is  called  "changing  his  leg." 

The  Seat  for  the  Canter  is  a  very  easy  one,  the  knees 
taking  a  very  gentle  bold  of  the  saddle,  the  feet  not  bearing 
strongly  upon  the  stirrups,  and  the  body  tolerably  upright  in 
the  saddle. 

The  hands  must  not  be  too  low  in  this  pace,  but  should 
keep  a  very  gentle  but  constant  pressure  upon  the  bit,  and 
should,  if  there  is  the  slightest  tendency  to  drop  the  canter, 
rouse  the  mouth  by  a  very  slight  reminder,  and  also  stimulate 
the  fears  by  the  voice  or  whip. 

The  Gallop  is  the  most  natural  of  all  paces,  being  seen 
in  all  horses  while  at  liberty,  from  the  Shetland  and  dray- 
horse  to  the  pure-bred  race-horse.  It  is  a  succession  of  leaps, 
and  differs  from  the  canter  in  one  important  feature,  which 
separates  the  one  pace  from  the  other.  In  the  description  of 
the  latter  pace  I  have  said  that  one  foot  is  always  in  contact 
with  the  ground;  while  in  the  gallop,  whether  fast  or  slow, 
there  is  always  an  interval  in  which  the  whole  animal  is  sus- 
pended in  the  air,  without  touching  the  ground.    Hence, 


18  HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

it  is  not  true  tliat  the  canter  is  a  slow  gallop,  nor  is  the 
gallop  a  fast  canter;  but  the  two  are  totallj'  distinct  paces, 
as  different  as  walking  and  running  in  the  human  subject. 
There  is,  however,  the  same  variation  in  the  leading  leg,  and 
tlie  same  mode  of  compelling  the  lead  of  one  particular  leg, 
as  well  as  of  causing  \he  change  of  lead,  though  it  is  much 
more  difficult  to  effect  these  objects  in  the  faster  pace  than  in 
the  slower  one.  . 

The  Proper  Seat  in  the  Gallop  is  either  to  sit  down  in 
the  saddle  or  to  stand  in  the  stirrups,  according  to  circum- 
stances. The  former  is  the  usual  seat,  and  it  is  only  in  rac- 
ing or  in  the  very  fast  gallop  at  other  times  that  the  latter  is 
adopted.  In  silting  down,  the  feet  may  be  either  resting  on 
the  ball  of  the  toe,  as  in  the  other  paces,  or  with  the. stirrup 
"  home  "  to  the  boot,  as  is  common  in  all  tield-riding.  The 
body  is  thrown  easily  and  slightly  back,  the  knees  take  firm 
hold,  the  rider  being  careful  not  to  grip  so  tight  as  to  dis- 
tress the  horse,  which  fault  I  have  known  very  muscular  men 
often  commit.  The  hands  should  be  low,  with  sufficient  pull 
at  the  mouth  to  restrain  him,  but  to  annoy  and  make  him 
"  fight ;"  and  if  he  is  inclined  to  get  his  head  down  too  much, 
or  tlie  reverse,  they  must  be  raised  or  lowered  accordingly. 
When  the  standing  in  the  stirrups  is  to  be  practiced,  the 
weight  is  thrown  upon  them,  steadying  it  with  the  knees, 
which  should  keep  firm  hold  of  the  saddle-flaps.  The  seat  of 
the  body  is  carried  well  back,  while  at  the  same  time  the 
loin  is  thrown  forward;  but  by  this  combined  action  the 
weight  is  not  hanging  over  the  shoulder  of  the  horse,  as  it 
would  be,  and  often  is,  when  the  breech  is  raised  from  the 
saddle  and  brought  almost  over  the  pommel,  with  the 
eyes  of  the  rider  looking  down  his  horse's  forehead,  or  very 
nearly  so. 

If  a  jockey  with  a  good  seat  is  watched,  it  will  be  seen  ihat 
his  leg  does  not  descend  straight  from  the  knee,  but  that  it  is 
slightly  thrown  back  from  that  line,  and  consequently  that 
his  center  of  gravity  is  behind  it,  so  that  he  can,  by  stiffen- 
ing the  joint,  carry  his  bofty  as  far  behind  it  as  his  stirrup  is, 
without  ceasing  to  stand  in  it.  This  seat  cannot  long  be 
maintair.ed  without  fatigue  to  the  rider,  and  it  i=  only  adopted 
in  racing  or  in  short  gallops  over  bud  ground,  a;';  in  hunting, 
when  there  is  a  deep  piece  of  fallow,  or  a  steep  hill,  or  any 
other  kind  of  ground  calculated  to  tire  the  horse. 

The  Varieties  of  the  Gallop  are  the  hand-gallop,  the 
three-quarter  gallop,  and  the  full-gallop,  which  is  capable  of 
still  further  extensian  in  the  "racing  setto."  They  are  all, 
however,  modifications  of  the  same  pace,  varying  only  in  the 
velocity  with  which  they  are  carried  out. 


RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE.      19 


EXTRAORDINARY    MOVEMENTS. 


Beskles  the  paces  of  the  horse  which  are  required  for  his 
use  by  man,  there  are  also  certain  tnovements  very  common- 
ly met  with,  but  by  no  means  desirable,  and  others  which 
are  taught  him  for  man's  extraordinary  purposes;  the  former 
are  called  vices,  the  latter  are  more  or  less  the  result  of  the 
manege,  or  breaking-school. 

Tiie  vices  are — tirst,  stumbling;  secondly,  cutting  and  rear- 
ing; thirdly,  shying;  fortlily,  kicliing;' fifthly,  plunging; 
sixthly,  lying  down;  seventldy,  shouldering;  and  eighthly, 
running  away.  The  managed  actions  are  backing,  passag- 
ing, etc. 

Stumbling  is  caused  by  defective  muscular  action  in  all 
cases,  though  tliere  is  no  doubt  that  in  many  horses  this  defect 
is  aggravated  by  lameness,  either  of  the  feet  or  legs,  or  from 
defective  shoeing. 

Some  horses  can  never  be  ridden  in  safety  for  many  miles, 
although  they  will  "show  out"  with  very  good  action;  and 
this  is  caused  by  the  muscles  which  raise  and  extend  the  leg 
tiring  very  rapidly;  after  which  the  ground  is  not  cleared  by 
the  toe,  and  when  it  is  struck  there  is  not  ^wtoer  to  recover 
from  the  mistake.  Many  careless  and  low  goers  are  con- 
•tantly  striking  their  feet  against  stones,  but  having  strong 
extensions  they  draw  their  feet  clear  of  the  obstacle,  ami 
easily  recover  themselves;  while  those  which  are  diflereutly 
furnished,  although  they  strike  with  less  force,  yet  they  have 
HO  power  to  help  themselves,  and  therefore  they  'fall.  The 
«ne  kind  may  be  kept  on  their  legs  by  constant  rousing  and 
severity,  but  the  weak  ones  are  never  safe.  In  the  stumbling 
from  lameness  or  soreness  the  most  humane  course,  as  well 
as  the  safest,  is  either  to  dismount  and  lead  the  horse,  or  to 
keep  him  alive  by  the  use  of  the  whip  or  spur.  Humanity, 
taking  a  middle  course  by  riding  quietly,  is  sure  to  lick  the 
dust,  ani  the  plan  should  never  be  attempted. 

But  there  are  many  kinds  of  careless  stumbling;  one  arises 
from  the  toe  touching  although  well  thrown  over;  but  the 
knee-action  being  low,  the  foot  is  not  cleared.  This  is  not  a 
very  dangerous  kind,  and  is  generally  recovered  from.  The 
next  is  from  the  foot  being  put  down  too  far  back,  and  too 
much  on  the  toe,  so  that  tue  |)astern,  instead  of  settling  into 
its  proper  place  behind  the  perpendicular  of  the  foot, 
"  knuckles  over"  in  front,  and  so  causes  the  leg  to  lose  Its 
power  of  sustaining  the  weight.  Here  the  horse  does  not 
generally  fall  unless  the  otlier  leg  follows  suit;  but  it  is  a 
very  unplei?sant  accident,  and  if  a  horse  is  liable  to  it  he  is 
never  to'be  considered  safe.  Such  animals  are  very  decep- 
tive to  the  young  and  inexperience i,  because  they  generally 


20  HOW  TO  BREAK,    HIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

lift  their  knees  high,  and  lead  to  the  supposition  that  they 
are  safe  and  good  goers.  But  if  they  are  watched  they  will 
be  seen  to  put  their  feet  down  behind  a  perpendicular  line, 
drawn  from  the  front  of  their  knees;  and  when  that  is  the 
case  the  kind  of  stumbling  here  alluded  to  is  always  to  be 
expected. 

There  is  also  the  stumbling  from  putting  the  foot  on  a 
rolling  stone,  which  gives  way  at  the  moment  of  bearing  the 
weight,  and  thus  throws  the  horse  off  his  balance,  so  as  to 
occasion  him  to  make  a  mistake  with  the  other  leg,  which 
will  be  greater  or  less  according  to  his  good  or  bad  action. 
Lastly,  there  is  a  s tumble  resuliing  from  tender  soles  or 
frogs,  in  which  the  feet  being  placed  upon  a  sharp  stone,  so 
much  pain  is  occasioned  that  the  knee  is  allowed  to  give 
way,  and  the  same  eflect  is  produced  as  in  the  accident 
caused  by  a  rolling  stone,  but  often  in  a  much  more  marked 
degree. 

The  Remedy  For  Stumbling  will,  in  all  cases,  depend 
upon  the  cause. 

If  this  is  frotn  weakness,  no  care  or  good  ridicg  will  pre- 
vent a  stumble,  though  it  may  avert  an  absolute  fall  by  talc- 
ing care  to  sit  well  back,  and  to  be  on  the  guard  against  be- 
ing pulled  over  the  shoulder  in  case  of  a  serious  mistake. 
There  is  no  use  in  holding  a  horse  hard  in  such  a  case;  he 
sjiould  be  kept  alive,  but  not  liurried,  because  the  more  lired 
he  18  the  more  likely  he  is  to  come  down.  Great  judgment, 
therefore,  will  be  necessary  to  "  nurse  him  '*  to  his  journey's 
end;  and  this  will  behest  done  by  an  occasional  relief  to  his 
back  and  walking  by  his  side.  No  one  should  ride  such  a 
horse  habitually;  but  if,  unfortunately,  he  finds  himself  on 
him,  and  some  miles  from  home,  the  above  is  the  best  course 
to  pursue. 

When,  however,  the  stumbling  is  from  decided  laziness, 
the  only  coarse  is  to  catch  hold  of  the  horse's  head  and  use 
the  whip  or  spur,  or  both,  pretty  severely.  Many  horses  are 
quite  safe  at  their  top  speed  on  the  trot,  but  at  a  half-trot 
they  are  never  to  be  trusted.  The  experienced  horseman 
readily  detects  the  exact  pace  which  his  horse  can  do  with 
the  greatest  ease  and  safety,  and  keeps  him  to  that.  Some 
can  trot  downhill  safely,  but  are  always  tripping  on  level 
ground  (these  are  low-actioned  horses  with  pretty  good 
shoulders);  others,  again,  always  trip  going  downhill  from 
overshooting  themselves,  and  of  course  each  must  be  ridden 
accordingly. 

When  lameness  is  the  cause  of  failure,  the  remedy  is  either 
to  have  the  shoe  taken  off  and  rectified,  if  that  is  the  cause, 
or  if  in  the  joints,  ligaments,  or  smews,  to  give  rest,  and  adopt 
the  pi-oper  remedies. 


HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE.      '2i 

Cutting  is  caused  by  the  horse  toucliing  one  leg  with  the 
other  shoe  or  foot,  and  it  may  be  either  of  the  ankle  or  pastern 
joint,  or  of  the  inside  of  the  leg,  or  just  below  the  knee,  which 
last  is  called  the  speedy  cut.  It  arises  from  the  legs  being 
set  on  slightly  awry,  so  that  the  action  is  not  striaightfor- 
ward;  and  this  is  aggravated  by  weakness  or  want  of  condi- 
tion, so  that  a  horse  often  cuts  when  poor,  though  he  is  quite 
free  froni  the  vice  when  high  in  flesh.  The  cutting  may  be 
either  of  the  fore  or  hind-leg. 

The  remedy  is  either  to  alter  the  shoeing,  or  to  apply  a 
boot. 

Rearing  is  a  coltish  trick,  which  is  generally  lost  as  the 
horse  grows  older;  it  is  not  nearly  so  common  now  as  it  used 
to  be,  and  a  bad  rearer  is  not  often  seen. 

When  in  an  aggravated  form  it  is  a  frightful  vice,  and  with 
an  inexperienced  rider  may  be  attended  with  fatal  mischief. 
In  slight  cases  it  consists  in  the  horse  simply  rising  a  little 
before  and  then  dropping  again,  as  if  from  play  only;  but  in 
the  worst  form  it  is  a  systematic  attempt  to  throw  the  rider, 
and  sometimes  the  horse  goes  so  far  as  to  throw  himself 
back  as  well. 

The  Remedy  for  this  vice  is  the  martingale,  which  may 
either  be  used  with  rings  running  on  the  snafBe-rein,  or  at- 
tached directly  to  that  bit  by  the  ordinary  billet  and  buckle; 
or,  again,  by  means  of  a  running-rein,  which  commences 
from  the  breast-strap  of  the  martingale,  and  tLen  running 
through  the  ring  of  the  snaffle  with  a  pulley-like  action,  it  is 
brought  back  to  the  hand,  and  it  may  thus  be  tightened  or 
relaxed  according  to  circumstances,  so  as  to  bring  the 
horse's  head  absolutely  down  to  his  brisket,  or,  on  the  other 
hand,  to  give  it  entire  liberty  without  dismounting.  It  is  a 
very  good  plan  with  an  experienced  horseman,  but  its  use 
should  not  be  attempted  by  any  other.  With  a  determined 
brute  nothing  short  of  this  last  kind  will  prevent  rearing; 
and  even  it  will  fail  in  some  cases,  for  there  are  some  horses 
which  rear  with  their  heads  between  their  forelegs.  Never- 
theless, happily,  they  are  rare  exceptions,  and  with  the 
majority  the  martingale  in  some  form  is  efficacious.  It 
should  never  he  put  on  the  curb-rein  with  rearers;  and,  in- 
deed, a  curb  is  seldom  to  be  used  at  all  with  horses  addicted 
to  that  vice;  they  are  always  made  worse  by  the  slightest 
touch  rf  the  bit,  and  unless  they  are  very  much  inclined  to 
run  away,  it  is  far  better  to  trust  to  a  straight  bit  or  plain 
snaffle,  which  by  not  irritating  the  mouth  will  often  induce 
them  to  go  pleasantly,  whereas  a  more  severe  bit  woula 
tempt  them  to  show  their  temper  by  rearing.  Breaking  a 
bottle  of  water  between  the  ears,  or  a  severe  blow  in  th« 


22  HOW  TO  BREAK,   RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

same  part,  may  in  some  cases  be  tried,  but  the  continued 
use  of  the  martingale  will  generally  suffice. 

There  is  also  a  mode  of  curing  rearers,  sometimes  at- 
tempted, by  letting  them  rise,  and  then  slipping  off  on  one 
side  and  pulling  them  back:  but  it  is  a  dangerous  feat  for 
both  liorse  and  rider,  and  has  often  led  to  a  broken  back  on 
the  part  of  the  horse,  as  well  as  sometimes  to  severe  injury 
to  the  rider. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  remark  that  the  rider  should,  in 
all  cases,  lean  well  forward  and  relax  the  bridle  while  the 
horse  is  in  the  air. 

Shying  is  sometimes  the  effect  of  fear,  and  sometimes  of 
vice,  and  there  are  many  horses  which  begin  by"  the  former 
and  end  with  the  latter,  in  consequence  of  mismanagement. 

The  young  colt  is  almost  always  more  or  less  shy,  especial- 
ly if  he  is  brought  at  once  from  the  retired  fields  where  he 
was  reared  to  the  streets  of  a  busy  town.  There  are,  how- 
ever, numberless  varieties  of  shyers,  some  being  dreadfully 
alarmed  by  one  kind  of  object,  which  to  another  is  not  at  all 
formidable.  When  a  horse  finds  that  he  gains  his  object  by 
turning  round,  he  will  often  repeat  the  turninj;  without  cause, 
))retending  to  be  alarmed,  and  looking  out  for  excuses  for  ir. 
This  is  not  at  all  uncommon,  and  with  timid  riders  leads  to  a 
discontinuance  of  the  ride,  by  which  the  horse  gains  his  end 
for  the  time,  and  repeats  the  trick  on  the  first  occasion.  In 
genuine  shying  from  fear  the  eyes  are  always  more  or  less 
defective,  i)ut  sometimes  this  is  not  the  cause,  which  is 
founded  on  a  general  irritability  of  the  nervous  system. 
Thus,  there  are  many  whijh  never  shy  at  meetino;  wagons, 
or  other  similar  objects,  but. which  almost  drop  with  fear  on 
a  small  bird  fiying  out  of  a  hedge,  or  any  other  stfytling 
sound.  These  are  also  worse,  because  they  give  no  notice, 
whereas  tlie  ordinary  shyer  almost  always  shows  by  his  ears 
that  he  is  prepared  to  turn. 

For  Shyers  the  only  remedy  is  to  take  as  little  notice  as 
possible,  to  make  light  of  the  occurrence,  speak  encourag- 
ingly, yet  rather  severely,  and  to  ge,t  them  by  the  object  some- 
how or  other.  If  needful,  the  aid  of  the  spur  and  whip  may 
be  called  in,  but  not  as  a  punishment.  If  the  horse  can  be 
urged  by  the  object  at  which  he  is  shyins:  without  the  whip  or 
spur,  so  much  the  better,  but  if  not,  he  must  be  compelled  to 
do  so  by  their  use.  Wlienever  fear  is  the  cause  of  shying, 
punishment  only  adds  to  that  fear;  but  where  vice  has  sup* 
planted  fear,  severity  should  be  used  to  correct  it. 

As  a  general  rule  the  whip  need  never  be  used,  unless  the 
horse  turns  absolutely  round;  and  not  then  unless  there  is 
reason  to  suspect  that  he  is  pretending  fear.     If  only  he  will 


HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE.     23 

go  by  the  object,  even  with  "  a  wide  berth/'  as  the  sailors 
say,  he  may  be  suflered  to  go  on  his  way  unpunished ;  and 
nothing  is  so  bad  as  the  absurd  severity  which  some  horse- 
men exercise  after  the  horse  lias  conquered  his  reluctance, 
and  passed  the  object.  At  this  time  lie  should  be  praised 
aui  patted,  with  all  the  encouragement  which  can  be  given; 
and  on  no  account  should  he  be  taught  to  make  those  rushes 
which  we  so  commonly  see  on  the  road,  from  the  improper 
use  of  the  whip  and  spur. 

If  punishment  is  necessary  at  all  it  must  be  used  before- 
hand; but  it  often  happens  that  the  rider  cannot  spare  his 
whip-hand  until  the  shying  is  over;  and  then,  in  his  passion, 
he  does  not  reflect  that  the  time  is  gone  by  for  its  employment. 

Kicking  is  a  very  unpleasant  vice,  either  in  the  saddle  or  in 
harness,  but  it  is  not  so  dangerous  in  the  former  as  in  the 
latter;  its  nature  is  too  well  known  to  need  description.  It 
is  often  the  result  of  play,  but  quite  as  frequently  it  arises 
from  a  vicious  desire  to  get  rid  of  the  rider. 

The  Proper  Mode  of  treating  a  kicker  is  to  catch  fast 
hold  of  the  head,  and  keep  it  well  up,  and  then  to  use  the 
whip  down  the  shoulder  severely.  If  the  head  is  not  well  in 
hand  he  will  often  kick  the  more,  but  if  the  head  is  kept  up 
while  the  blow  is  given,  he  will  generally  desist.  A  gag- 
suaflie  is  very  useful  with  confirmed  kickers,  as  it  serves  to 
keep  the  head  up  better  than  any  other  bit. 

Plunging  consists  in  a  series  of  bounds  or  springs,  by 
which  the  horse  evidently  hopes  to  relieve  himself  of  his  bur- 
den. His  back  is  generally  rounded,  and  very  often  he  will 
"buck,"  or  jump  off  the  ground  perpendicularly,  by  which  a 
weak  rider  is  sure  to  be  unseated. 

The  remedy  is  to  sit  still,  and  keep  the  head  confined, 
though  not  too  closely.  Very  often  plunging  is  followed  by 
a  tit  of  kicking,  for  which  the  rider  should  be  prepared.  If 
there  is  reason  to  expect  that  a  horse  will  commence  this 
trick,  a  cloth,  rolled  like  a  soldier's  cloak,  and  buckled  to  the 
front  of  the  saddle,  is  a  great  assistance,  and  will  often  save 
a  fall  when  the  seat  is  not  very  good. 

Lying  Down  is  a  vice  which  only  Welsh  ponies,  and  other 
obstinate  brutes,  indulge  in,  and  it  is  seldom  met  with  in  En- 
glish-bred horses.  The  spur  will  sometimes  keep  them  up, 
but  in  bad  cases  there  is  no  remedy  but  submission. 

Shouldering  is  also  a  trick  only  met  with  among  badly 
bred  horses,  though  sometimes  horses  of  all  breeds,  if  they 
have  been  badly  broken,  will  adopt  this  expedient,  by  at- 
tempting to  crush  the  knee  against  a  wall  or  paling."  If, 
however,  the  hand  and  foot  are  put  strongly  out,  the  horse 


24   HOW   TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND   DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

cannot  use  enough  lateral  pressure  to  overcome  their  resist- 
ance, and  no  harm  is  clone.  * 

Running  Away  is  only  an  extreme  form  of  pulling  in  the 
gallop,  but  sometimes  it  is  of  a  most  vicious  descripiioL',  and 
the  horse  gallops  as  if  maddened  b}^  excitement.  It  is  a  moat 
dangerous  vice,  as  it  is  generally  practicnd  at  times  when  it 
is  most  inconvenient,  as  in  crowded  thoroughfares,  etc. 

For  Horses  which  Run  Away,  various  severe  bits  have 
been  invented,  but  nothing  has  ever  yet  been  introduced 
which  is  so  successful  as  tlie  Bucephalus  nose-band. 

It  is  a  good  plan  in  determined  brutes  to  make  them  gallop 
to  a  stand-still,  by  giving  them  an  uphill  burster  which  may 
generally  be  managed,  though  there  are  some  which  are  only 
made  worse  by  this  treatment.  Si  ill  it  generally  succeeds, 
and  most  horses  are  rendered  quiet  for  some  time  by  such  an 
effort.  Nevertheless,  they  generally  try  again  as  soon  as 
they  are  fresh,  and  they  are  seldom  to  be  trusted  with  any 
riders  but  good  horsemen.  It  is  of  no  use  to  pull  dead  at 
these  animals,  but  it  is  better  to  let  them  go  when  there  is 
plenty  of  room,  and  then  to  cry  what  a  sharp  and  severe  pull 
will  do— not  keeping  it  up  too  long  if  ineffectual,  but  loosing 
the  mouth  again  for  a  time,  and  then  trying  again.  Some- 
times, however,  there  is  no  room  for  tliis,  and  then  tlie  only 
plan  is  to  try  and  bring  the  head  round,  either  witli  a  view  of 
galloping  in  a  circle,  or  to  run  the  head  against  a  fence,  or 
even  a  wall  or  strong  gate.  Sometimes  anything  is  better 
than  a  straight  course — as,  for  instance,  into  a  crowded  thor- 
oughfare, where  there  would  be  an  almost  positive  certainty 
of  mischief;  and  in  such  a  case  it  is  better  to  do  anything 
than  to  persevere  in  the  course  which  the  runaway  is  taking. 
Here  the  horse  must  be  pulled  into  anything  which  will  stop 
him,  such  as  a  thick  hedge  or  a  park  wall,  or  any  similar  in- 
surmountable obstacle;  and  all  risks  jnust  be  run  of  damag- 
ing him,  or  even  his  rider,  who  will,  however,  generally  es- 
cape with  slight  bruises  if  the  horse  is  run  full  tilt  against 
the  object,  an\l  not  too  obliquely,  which  will  not  at  all  an- 
swer the  purpose. 

Backing  is  necessary  for  all  horses  to  ])e  taught,  though  not 
so  often  required  in  riding  as  in  harness-horses.  It  is  always 
one  of  thetirst  tilings  drilled  into  the  colt  by  his  breaker,  and 
the  finished  and  l)roken  horse  will,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
readily  obey  the  hand  of  the  rider  when  he  gently  draws  him 
back.  The  pull  should  not  be  harder  tiian  the  particular 
mouth  requires,  some  horses  being  easily  irritated  by  too" 
severe  a  confinement  of  the  mouth.  If  a  horse  obstinately 
refuses  to  stir,  the  bit  may  be  eently  "sawed"  from  side  to 
side,  which  seldom  fails  to  make  him  stir. 


HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE.      25 

When  backing  is  adopted  by  tbe  horse  with  vicious  Inten- 
tions, and  contrary  to  the  will  of  his  master,  it  is  called 
•♦jibbing,"  and  is  a  most  unmanageable  trick,  for  which  the 
beat  remedy  is  patience.  Punishment  never  answers,  and  the 
horse  only  jibs  the  more;  but  by  quietly  waiting  until  he  is 
tired,  the  animal  will  generally  give  up  the  tight,  and  con- 
tinue his  progress  in  the  desired  direction. 

Passaging  is  a  feat  of  horsemanship  never  used  in  this 
country  except  in  the  military  schools.  It  is  the  action  of 
the  horse  by  which  he  moves  sideways,  using  the  two  legs  of 
each  side  at  a  time,  and  following  them  up,  advancing  them 
to  the  right  or  left  by  bringing  the  other  two  up  to  them. 

THE    RIDE. 

The  Ride  is  the  putting  into  practice  all  the  directions 
which  have  already  been  given.  When  the  orders  have  been 
issued  for  a  horse  to  be  prepared,  he  is  brought  lo  the  door 
ready  saddled  and  bridled.  It  is  the  groom's  duty  to  place 
the  saddle  properly  on ;  but  it  is  as  well  that  the  master  should 
know  how  and  where  to  put  it  on. 

The  common  direction  is  to  put  the  saddle  "one  hand's- 
breadth  behind  the  shoulder-blade,"  but  this  is  too  far  back, 
and  few  saddles  will  remain  there;  it  is  far  better'  to  place  it 
at  once  where  it  fits  than  to  give  it  room  to  come  forward, 
because  the  girths  only  become  more  slack  as  it  shifts,  and 
allow  it  to  press  still  more  forward  than  it  otherwise  would; 
whereas,  if  it  had  been  first  placed  where  it  soon  traveled 
forward,  the  girths  would  have  kept  tight,  and  it  would 
have  moved  no  further. 

A  better  rule  is  to  place  the  saddle  where  it  fits,  taking 
care  to  have  it  as  far  back  as  it  will  fit.  The  bridle  should  be 
put  on,  with  the  bit  neither  too  high  nor  too  low  in  the  mouth, 
and  with  the  throat-lash  of  the  proper  tightness,  which  i)oints 
can  only  be  learned  from  experience.  After  leaving  the  stable, 
and  if  the  weather  is  fine,  walking  the  horse  about  for  a  few 
minutes,  the  girths  will  generally  require  lightening,  which 
the  groom  should  see  to.  When  the  horse  is  to  be  mounted, 
the  rider,  if  he  cannot  fully  depend  upon  his  groom,  should 
see  to  his  girths,  and  that  his  bridle  is  properly  put  on,  with 
the  curb  of  the  right  degree  of  tightness,  if  he  uses  a  double- 
reined  bridle.  As  soon  as  this  is  settled,  the  groom  brings 
the  horse  up  to  the  door,  holding  it  with  the  left  hand  by  the 
suafile-reins,  and  bearing  upon  the  ofl"  stirrup  to  resist  the 
weight  if  the  rider  is  a  heavy  man,  which  will  prevent  the 
saddle  from  twisting.  The  rider  then  mounts,  and  puts  his 
horse  into  a  walk,  which  should  always  be  the  pace  for  the 
commencement  of  a  ride  for  pleasure.  He  may  in  this  pace, 
as  I  hare  already  explained,  give  his  horse  considerable  lib- 


26  HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSfl. 

•rty  of  the  head,  and  he  will  have  no  difficulty  in  turniiTg 
him  to  the  right  or  left,  either  by  the  use  of  one  hand  or 
both,  or  by  bearing  upon  the  neck  according  to  the  mode  to 
which  the  horse  has  been  broken.  After  a  short  distance  he 
may  practice  the  various  paces,  and  if  he  is  inclined  to  learn 
to  ride  well,  he  may  at  times  throw  the  stirrups  across  the 
saddle,  and  attempt  to  canter  without  them. 

In  learning  to.  ride  without  stirrups,  it  is  a  very  good  plan 
to  have  the  inside  of  the  trousers  lined  with  a  strip  of  black 
leather,  in  the  French  fashion,  which  takes  a  good  grip  of 
the  saddle ;  for  with  cloth  trousers  and  a  smoothly  polished 
saddle  there  is  very  little  hold  to  be  obtained,  and  tlie  balance 
alone  must  preserve  the  seat.  With  this  addition  all  the 
paces  may  soon  be  m.astered  without  the  aid  of  tlie  stirrups; 
but  the  trot  will  be  tlie  last  of  necessity,  because  it  is  by  fur 
the  most  difficult.  No  rise  can  now  be  managed,  and  the 
body  must  be  suffered  to  lake  its  chance  upon  the  saddle, 
leaning  back  to  rather  more  than  the  perpendicular  position, 
and  not  attempting  to  do  more  than  keep  the  balance.  When 
riding  without  stirrups,  the  feet  should  be  carried  in  the 
same  position  as  if  they  were  being  used,  the  heel  being  care- 
fully depressed,  and  the  toes  raised  by  the  muscular  power 
of  the  leg. 

"       FEMALE     HORSEMANSHIP. 

The  Saddlery  for  the  use  of  ladies  is  similar  in  'princiiile 
to  that  devoted  to  the  gentlemen's  riding,  with  the  exception 
that  the  bits  and  reins  of  the  bridle  are  lighter  and  more  orna- 
mental, and  the  saddle  furnished  with  crutches  for  side-rid- 
ing. The  reins  are  narrower  than  those  used  by  gentlemen, 
but  otherwise  the  same.  Until  lately  they  were  rounded, 
and  the  nose-band  fringed,  but  all  ornament  is  now  out  of 
fashion. 

The  side-saddle  should  be  carefully  fitted  to  the  hurse, 
and  there  should  always  be  a  third-crutch,  the  use  of  which 
will  hereafter  be  explained.  There  is  an  extra  leather  girth, 
which  keeps  the  flaps  of  the  saddle  in  their  places.  The  stir- 
rup may  either  be  like  a  man's,  with  a  lining  of  leather  or 
velvet,  or  it  may  be  a  shpper,  which  is  safer,  and  also  easier 
to  the  foot.  The  lady's  whip  is  a  light  affair;  but  as  her 
horse  ought  seldom  to  require  punishment,  it  is  carried  more 
to  threaten,  than  to  give  punishment.  A  spur  may  be  added 
for  alad5^'s  use;  and  for  those  who  hunt,  it  is  sometimes  need- 
ful for  the  purpose  of  giving  a  stimulus  at  the  right  moment.  If 
used,  it  is  buckled  on  to  the  boot,  and  a  small  opening  is 
made  in  the  habit,  with  a  string  attached  to  the  inside,  which 
is  then  tied  round  the  ankb,  and  thus  keeps  the  spur  always 
projecting  beyond  the  folds  of  the  habit.    A  nose-martingale 


HOW  TO   BREAK,    RIDE  AND   DRIVE  A   HORSE.     27 

is  generally  added  for  ornament;  but  no  horse  which  throws 
his  head  up  is  fit  for  a  lady's  use. 

The  Lady's  Horse  ought  to  be  the  most  perfect  of  hacks, 
instead  of  being,  as  he  often  is,  a  useless  brute,  fit  only  to  be 
shot. 

Many  men  think  that  any  horse  gifted  with  a  neat  outline 
will  carry  a  lady,  but  it  is  a  great  mistake ;  and  if  the  ladies 
themselves  had  the  choice  of  horses,  they  would  soon  decide  to 
the  contrary.  The  only  thing  in  their  favor  in  choosing  a  lady's 
horse  is  that  the  weight  to  be  carried  is  generally  light,  and 
therefore  a  horse  calculated  to  carry  them  is  seldom  fit  to 
mount  a  man,  because  the  weight  of  the  male  sex  is  gener- 
ally so  much  above  that  of  an  "equestrian  lady.  Few  of  this 
sex  who  ride  are  above  126  pounds,  and  most  are  below  that 
weight,  and  a  horse  which  will  be  well  up  to  140  pounds,  in- 
cluding the  saddle,  will  not  be  able  even  to  waddle  under 
168  pounds  or  upward.  But  in  point  of  soundness,  action, 
mouth  aiid  temper,  the  lady's  hack  should  be  uuimpeachabh;; 
and  these  are  the  points  that  constitute  a  perfect  hack  fur 
either  sex.  Again,  a  gentleman's  hack  may  be  good,  yet 
wholly  unable  to  canter,  and  so  formed  that  he  cannot  be 
taught;  he  therefore  is  unsuited  to  a  lady;  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  every  lady's  horse  should  do  all  his  paces  well.  Many 
ladies,  it  is  true,  never  trot,  but  they  should  not  be  fur- 
nished with  the  excuse  that  they  cannot,  because  their 
horses  will  not. 

In  size,  the  lady's  horse  should  be  about  fifteen  hands,  or 
from  U  1-2  to  15  1-2;  less  than  this  allows  the  habit  to  trail 
in  the  dirt,  and  more  makes  the  horse  too  lofty  and  unwieldy 
for  a  lady's  use. 

In  Breaking  the  Lady's  Horse,  if  he  is  of  good  temper 
and  fine  mouth,  little  need  be  done  but  to  make  him  canter 
easily,  and  with  the  right  leg  foremost.  This  is  necessary, 
because  the  other  leg  is  uncomfortable  to  the  rider,  from  h'er 
side  position  on  the  saddle;  the  breaker,  therefore,  should 
adopt  the  means  already  described,  and  persevere  until  the 
horse  is  quite  accustomed  to  the  pace,  and  habitually  starts 
off  with  the  right  leg.  He  should  also  bend  him  thoroughly, 
so  as  to  make  him  canter  well  on  his  hind-legs,  and  not  with 
the  disunited  action  which  one  so  often  sees.  The  curb  must 
be  used  for  tliis  purpose,  but  without  bearing  too  strongly 
upon  it;  the  horse  must  be  brought  to  his  paces  by  fine  hand- 
ling rather  than  by  force,  and  by  occasional  pressure,  which 
he  will  yield  to  and  play  with  if  aUowed,  rather  than  by  a  dead 
pull.  In  this  way,  by  taking  advantage  of  every  inch  yield- 
ed, and  yet  not  going  too  far  the  head  is  gradually  brouglit 
in,  and  the  hiod-leffs  as  gradually  are  thrust  forward,  so  as 


28    HOW    TO    BREAK,    RIDE    AND    DRIVE    A    HORSE. 

instinctively  to  steady  tbe  moutli,  and  prevent  the  pressure 
which  is  feared.  When  this  "setting  on  the  haunches"  is 
accomplished,  a  horse-cloth  may  be  strapped  on  tho  near 
side  of  the  saddle,  to  accustom  him  to  the  flapping  of  the 
habit;  but  I  have  always  foand,  in  an  ordinarily  good-tem- 
pered liorse,  that  if  the  paces  and  mouth  were  all  perfect  the 
habit  is  sure  to  be  borne. 

It  is  a  kind  of  excuse  which  gentlemen  are  too  apt  to  make, 
that  their  horses  have  never  carried  a  lady;  but  if  they  will 
carry  a  gentleman  quietly,  they  will  always  carry  a  lady  in 
the  same  style,  thougli  that  may  not  perhaps  be  suitable  to 
her  seat  or  hands. 

The  Directions  for  Holding  the  Reins,  and  for  their  use, 
already  given,  apply  equally  well  to  ladies:  the  only  difference 
being  that  the  knee  prevents  the  hand  being  lowered  to  the 
pommel  of  the  saddle.  This  is  one  reason  why  the  neck  re- 
quires to  be  more  bent  than  for  the  gentleman's  use,  because 
if  it  is  straight,  or  at  all  ewe-necked,  the  hands  being  high, 
raise  the  head  into  the  air,  and  make  the  horse  more  of  a 
"  star-gazer"  than  he  otherwise  would  be.  Many  ladies  hold 
the  reins  as  in  driving,  the  directions  for  which  are  given  in 
the  next  chapter.  It  is  in  some  respects  better,  because  it 
allows  the  head  to  be  lower  than  in  the  gentleman's  mode, 
and  the  ends  of  the  reins  fall  better  over  the  habit. 

In  Mounting,  the  horse  is  brought  to  the  door  by  the 
groom,  and  held  steadily,  as  for  a  gentleman's  use,  taking 
care  to  keep  him  well  up  to  the  place  where  the  lady  stands, 
from  which  he  is  very  apt  to  sidle  away.  The  gentleman 
assistant  then  places  his  right  hand  on  his  right  knee,  or  a 
little  below  it,  and  receives  the  lady's  left  foot.  Previously  to 
this,  she  sliould  have  taken  tlie  rein  in  her  right  hand,  which 
is  placed  on  the  middle  crutch ;  then,  with  her  left  on  Uie 
gentleman's  shoulder,  and  her  foot  in  his  hand,  she  makes  a 
spring  from  the  ground,  and  immediately  stiflens  her  left 
leg,  using  his  hand,  steadied  by  his  knee,  as  a  second  founda- 
tion for  a  spring;  and  then  she  is  easily  lifted  to  her  saddle 
by  the  hand  following  and  finishing  her  spring  with  what 
little  force  is  required.  As  she  rises,  the  hand  still  keeps 
hold  of  the  cratcli,  which  tlirows  the  body  sideways  on  the 
saddle,  and  she  then  lifts  her  riglit  knee  over  tiie  middle 
crutch.  After  this  she  lifts  herself  up  from  the  saddle,  and 
the  gentleman  draws  her  habit  from  under  her  until  smooth; 
he  then  places  her  left  foot  in  the  stirrup,  including  with  it 
a  fold  of  her  habit,  and  she  is  finally  seated,  and  should  take 
her  reins  and  use  them  as  directed  for  the  gentleman. 

The  great  mistake  whidi  is  constantly  made  in  mounting 
is  in  the  use  of  the  lady's  knee,  which  should  be  carefnlly 
straightened  the  moment  it  can  be  effected;  for  if  kept  bent 


HOW    TO  BREAK,    RIDE    AND   DRIVE   A   HORSE.    29 


it  requires  great  power  to  lift  a  lady  into  tlie  saddle,  whereas 
with  a  good  spring  and  a  straight  knee  she  ought  to  weigh 
but  a  very  few  pounds  in  the  hand. 

The  Lady's  Seat  is  very  commonly  supposed  to  be  a  weak 
one,  and  to  depend  entirely  upon  balance,  but  this  is  the 
greatest  possible  mistake;  and  there  can  be  no  doubt,  from 
wliat  is  seen  in  private  as  well  as  in  the  circus,  that  it  re- 
quires as  great  an  effort  of  tlie  horse  to  dislodge  a  good  fe- 
male rider  as  to  i)roduce  the  same  effect  upon  a  gentleman. 
Even  with  the  old  single  crutch  there  was  a  good  hold  with 
the  leg,  but  now  that  the  third  is  added,  the  grip  is  really  a 
firm  one.  When  this  is  not  used,  the  crutch  is  laid  hold  of  by 
the  right  leg,  and  pinched  between  the  calf  of  the  leg  and  the 
thigh,  so  as  to  afford  a  firm  and  steady  hold  for  the  whole 
body,  especially  when  aided  by  the  stirrup.  But  this  latter 
support  merely  preserves  the  balance,  and  is  useful  also  in 
trotting;  it  does  not  at  all  give  a  firm,  steady  seat,  though  it 
adds  to  one  already  obtained  by  the  knee.  When  two 
crutches  are  used,  the  leg  is  not  brought  back  so  far  as  to 
grasp  the  crutch  as  before,  but  between  the  two  knees  the 
two  crutches  are  firmly  laid  hold  of,  the  upper  one  being  un- 
der the  right  knee,  and  the  lower  one  above  the  left.  The 
right  knee  hooked  over  the  crutch  keeps  the  body  from  slip- 
ping backward,  while  the  left  keeps  it  from  a  forward  mo- 
tion, and  thus  the  proper  position  is  maintained. 

In  all  cases  the  right  foot  should  be  kept  back,  and  the 
point  of  the  toe  should  scarcely  be  visible.  These  points 
should  be  carefully  kept  in  view  by  all  lady  riders,  and  they 
should  learn  as  soon  as  possible  to  steady  themselves  by  this 
grasp  of  the  crutches,  without  reference  to  the  stirrup-iron. 
En  spite  of  her  side-seat,  the  body  should  be  square  to  the 
front,  with  the  elbow  easily  bent,  and  preserved  in  its  proper 
position  by  the  same  precaution. 

The  whip  is  generally  held  in  the  right  hand,  with  the  lash 
pointing  forward,  and  toward  the  left,  and  by  this  position  it 
may  be  used  on  any  part  of  the  horse's  body,  by  reaching 
over  to  the  left,  and  cutting  before  or  behind  the  saddle,  or 
with  great  ease  on  the  right  side.  Its  use  may,  therefore,  in 
all  cases  be  substituted  for  the  pressure  of  the  leg  in  the  de- 
scription of  the  modes  of  effecting  the  change  of  leg.  turning 
to  the  left  or  right,  or  leading  with  either  leg.  With  this 
substitution,  and  with  the  caution  against  all  violent  at- 
tempts at  coercion,  which  are  better  carried  out  by  the  fine 
hand  and  delicate  tact  of  the  lady,  all  the  feats  which  man 
can  perform  may  well  be  imitated  by  her. 

In  Dismountino,  the  horse  is  brought  to  a  dead  stop,  and 
hie  head  held  by  aa  assistant ;  the  lady  taten  turns  her  kue^ 


30   HOW   TO   BREAK,    RIDE  AND   DRIVE  A   HORSE. 

back  again  from  the  position  between  the  outside  crutch,  takes 
her  foot  out  of  the  stirrup,  and  siis  completelj'  sideways;  she 
then  puts  her  left  hand  upon  the  gentleman's"  shoulder,  who 
places  his  right  arm  round  her  waist,  and  lightly  assists  her 
to  the  ground. 

DRIVING. 

VARIETIES  OF   CARRIAGES. 

Carriages  used  for  pleasure,  as  distinguished  from  stag« 
and  hired  carriages,  are  of  numerous  kinds,  and  have  re- 
ceived an  immense  number  of  distinguishing  names,  some  of 
which  are  only  in  vogue  during  a  short  reign,  while  others 
are  long  favorites  of  the  driving  public. 

The  chief  division  is  fourfold— First,  two-wheeled  open  car- 
riages; secondly,  two-wheeled  headed  carriages;  thirdly, 
four-wheeled  open  carriages;  fourthly,  four-wheeled  close 
carriages. 

Two-wheeled  Open  Carriages  used  by  private  parties 
are— the  Dog-cart,  the  Dennet  gig,  the  Tilbury,  the  inside 
and  outside  Irish  car. 

In  the  Dog-cart,  the  body  of  which  is  more  or  less  square, 
with  two  seats  back  to  back,  there  is  a  large  boot  capable  of 
taking  dogs  or  luggage,  and  hence  its  general  usefulness  in 
the  countrj^ 

The  springs  are  generally  a  single  long  side-spring,  and  the 
shafts  are  usually  of  lance-wood.  They  are  made  to  shift  the 
balance  in  case  of  their  being  u&ed  by  two  persons  only,  for 
which  purpose  various  contrivances  are  adopted. 

In  the  Dennet,  or  Stanhope  gig— which  latter  Is  now  al- 
most exploded  on  account  of  its  weight,  and  its  so  severely 
trying  the  back  and  legs  of  the  horse— there  is  only  room 
for  two  persons.  The  seat  is  generally  rounded  at  the  angles, 
and  either  railed  or  paneled;  and  the  boot  is  plain  and  small, 
as  compared  with  the  dog-cart. 

In  the  peculiar  principle  first  introduced  by  Fuller,  of  Bath, 
the  shafts  are  of  lance-wood,  often  combined  with  whalebone, 
and  the  knee-motion  derived  from  the  horse  is  almost  totally 
got  rid  of.  Upon  this  depends  the  comfort  of  all  two-wheeled 
vehicles,  and  especially  where  two  persons  only  are  accom- 
modated; for,  in  many  old-fashioned  Dencets  the  motion 
was  worse  than  any  high-trotting  horse.  The  shaft  Is 
tapered  at  the  back-end  and  attached  to  a  cross-spring,  so 
that  the  fulcrum  at  the  drawing-bar  is  in  the  center  of  two 
long  springs— one  between  it  and  the  horse's  pad,  the  other 
between  it  and  the  back  of  the  gig ;  and  t,a  they  play  easily, 


i 


MOW  To  BREAK,   RiDfi  AND  DRIVE  A  MORSE.      31 

the  two  fixed  points  at  the  fulcrum  and  the  back  remain  sta- 
tionary. When  properly  balanced,  tliis  gig  Ought  not  to 
press  upon  the  horse's  back  on  level  ground  more  than  a  few 
ounces,  or  just  sufficient  to  prevent  its  bearing  back,  and 
thus  straining  the  belly-band  and  fretting  the  horse  in  that 
way. 

The  Tilbury  is  a  gig  of  a  totally  ditTerent  construction, 
and  being  suspended  upon  leather  braces,  its  motion  is  much 
softer  than  the  Dennet;  but  what  it  gains  in  this  respect  it 
loses  in  knee- motion,  which  is  very  considerable.  There  is 
no  boot,  but  a  skeleton  body  is  attached  to  a  plated  and 
therefore  rigid  siiaft,  by  means  of  a  spring  projecting  in  front, 
and  attached  by  a  brace,  and  another  projecting  behind,  sus- 
pended to  a  cross-spring  by  a  long  leather  brace.  This  cross- 
spring  is  raised  from  the  cross-bar  at  the  back  of  the  shafts 
by  iron  stays  in  a  T-like  form ;  and  it  was  supposed  when  it 
was  first  invented  that  the  leather  brace  would  allow  of  the 
shaft  moving  with  the  horse  without  influencing  the  gig. 
This  hypothesis  was.  iiowever,  not  found  to  be  consistent 
with  the  fact,  as  the  Tilbury  is  found  to  receive  a  most  un- 
comfortable motion  from  the  horse,  and  to  communicate  it  to 
the  rider;  and  no  plan  has  yet  been  discovered  by  which  this 
can  be  remedied.  By  setting  tlie  cross-spring  well  back,  and 
thus  straining  the  braces  apart,  some  improvement  is  etl'ect- 
ed ;  but  it  is  still  a  very  uneasy  gig,  as  compared  with  Fuller's 
Dennet,  which  has  maintained  its  superiority  for  the  last  25 
years,  although  hard  pressed  by  tlie  cheap  substitutes  which 
have  been  extensively  adopted  in  its  place,  in  the  shape  of 
dog-carts,  etc. 

In  the  Irish  Car  the  passengers  are  placed  opposite  one 
another  in  the  inside  car,  and  back  to  back  in  the  outside  va- 
riety, but  in  both  cases  sideways  as  regards  the  line  of  prog- 
ress. They  were  formerly  a  good  deal  used  in  this  country, 
but  are. now  almost  entirely  superseded  by  the  various  dog- 
carts. 

Besides  the  above  two-wheeled  carriages  there  are  several 
varieties  of  the  dog-cart,  as  ihe  Whitechapel,  the  Malvern, 
the  Croydon  basket-cart,  etc. 

The  Two-wheeled  Headed  Carriages  consist  of  the  cab- 
riolet, the  Hansom's  cab,  the  Duobua,  the  Nottingham  cot- 
tage-cart, and  the  headed  Dennet. 

The  Cabriolet  is  a  very  handsome  vehicle,  but  it  is  very 
heavy,  both  in  actual  weight  and  in  draught;  and  also  very 
severe  upon  the  horse's  back  and  legs.  It  consists  of  a  pe- 
culiarly shaped  body,  with  a  wooden  knee-boot,  incapable, 
therefore,  of  being  folded  up,  and  consequently  very  hot  iu 


32  HOW  TO  BREAK,  RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

summer;  the  bead  will  let  down  if  desired;  tlie  springs  are 
somewhat  similar  in  principle  to  those  of  the  Tilbury,  except 
that  they  are  of  tlie  C  shape  instead  of  the  T. 

This  vehicle  is  not  well  suited  for  country  use,  but  for  town 
work  there  is  notliing  so  well  adapted  for  those  who  usually 
drive  themselves.  A  board  is  placed  behind  for  the  groom 
to  stand  upon, and  his  weight  materially  diminishes  the  knee- 
motion  inside.  Cabriolets  cannot  well  be  built  under  7  1-2 
to  8  cwt.,  and  most  of  them  weigh  9  cwt. 

The  Hansom  Cab  is  generally  a  street  vehicle,  but 
sometimes  it  is  adapted  to  private  use,  and  makes  a 
most  comfortable  one  for  professional  men  or  for  bachelors, 
though  I  cannot  see  in  what  it  is  superior  to  the  Brougham. 
In  a  moderately  hilly  country,  I  know  from  experience  that 
it  is  beaten  by  any  light  four-wheeled  carriage,  because  it 
distresses  the  horse  in  going  uphill  or  down.  It  consist^i  of 
a  roomy,  cab-shaped  body,  of  peculiar  construction,  which 
must  be  familiar  to  all,  anil  with  the  seat  for  the  driver  be- 
hind, so  that  he  drives  over  the  head  of  his  master.  In  con- 
sequence of  the  high  wheels  which  can  be  employed,  these 
vehicles  run  very  light  on  level  ground,  and  they  are  much 
liked  on  account  of  the  speed  with  which  the  horse  can  get 
along.  They  are  on  Dennet  springs,  and  with  plated  ash- 
shafts;  but,  as  they  are  evenly  balanced,  there  is  no  knee- 
motion. 

The  Duobus  is  a  mere  slice  of  an  omnibus  placed  upon 
two  wheels,  and  is  an  awkward  and  troublesome  carriage  in 
every  respect,  ft  is  entered  behind,  and  the  driver  sits  on 
one  side.  These  also  are  on  Dennet  springs;  and  with  lance- 
wood  shafts  they  may  be  rendered  free  from  knee-motion. 

The  Nottixguam  Cottage-Cart  is  a  very  useful  vehicle  for 
the  sportsman  of  limited  means,  who  wishes  an  occasional 
close  carriage  for  evening  work  or  wet  weather.  It  is  well 
adapted  for  ordinary  use,  exactly  like  a  roomy  dog-cart;  but 
it  opens  upward  behind  to  form  a  head,  and  downward  to 
make  a  foot-board,  so  that  the  two  hind-seats  are  completely 
under  cover.  I  can  speak  fully  as  to  its  merits  and  demerits, 
being  really  the  inventor  of  it,  as  I  "had  one  built  from  my  own 
designs  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1851,  and  used  it  fully  two 
years  before  the  Nottingham  cart  was  brought  out,  on  a  plan 
precisely  similar  to  mine.  Whatever  merit,  therefore,  may 
belong  to  the  invention  is  clearly  mine,  and  I  really  believe  it 
is  a  very  serviceable  cart  for  the  purpose  above  specified  The 
only  drawback  is  that  the  wheels  throw  the  dirt  in  behind, 
and  unless  the  weather  is  cold  enough  to  allow  of  its  being 
shut  up  closely,  it  is  a  very  troublesome  fault  indeed.  The 
same  applies  to  dusty  roads,  in  which  condition  this  cart  ia 


HOW  TO  BREAK,   RIDE   AND   DRIVE   A    HORSE.     33 

absolutely'  stlttia<2:;  but,  as  I  said  before,  for  iii^ht  work,  or  as 
a  defense  afijainst  rain,  it  is. very  useful,  and  it  will,  on  ordi- 
nary occasions,  hold  several  dogs,  either  for  shooting  or 
coursing. 

The  Headed  Dennet  is  a  very  uncomfortable  kind  of  close 
carriage,  because  the  head  is  obliged  lo  be  made  very  high 
and  shallow;  the  wind,  therefore,  beats  the  ram  in  very 
much,  and  it  is  not  nearly  so  good  a  protection  as  a  gig- 
umbrella,  which  may  be  made  a  very  tolerable  prot^ectiou 
from  rain. 

Open  Four-wheeled  Carriages  consist  of  the  britschka, 
tlie  barouche,  the  various  phaetons,  and  the  sociable. 

The  Britschka  and  the  Barou(mie  may  be  considered  to- 
gether, as  they  are  alike  in  springs  and  general  principle, 
though  diflerent  in  the  shape  of  the  body.  In  the  former 
this  is  straight  at  ihe  lower  edge  (called  the  rocker),  and 
with  a  very  low  driving-box,  it  being  generally  used  for 
travehng  post.  In  the  latter  the  rocker  is  boat-like,  and  the 
coach-box  is  raised  considerably  above  the  level  of  the  inside 
seats.  Both  have  a  single  head  behind,  and  a  knee-boct  in 
front,  wliich  either  turns  down  and  protects  the  inside  passen- 
gers' legs,  or  when  turned  back  it  serves  to  protect  the  two 
vho  ride  with  their  backs  to  the  horses.  The  britschka  gen- 
erally has  a  rumble  behind,  but  the  barouche  is  not  often  sup- 
plied with  that  appendage.  Both  are  on  C  springs,  with 
elliptic  springs  under,  and  both  have  a  perch. 

The  Various  Phaetons,  including  the  Sociable,  are  difficult 
to  define,  but  ihey  are  generally  distinguished  by  the  absence 
of  tlio  C  springs  and  perch.  They  have  almost  always  ellip- 
tic sprinji^s,  similar  in  principle  to  those  shown  under  the  C 
springs,  but  lighter  in  make.  Sometimes,  however,  as  in  the 
Mail  Phaeton,  they  have  them  of  a  difllerent  construction, 
tiiere  being  four  springs  behind  and  three  before,  constituting 
in  the  first  case  a  square,  and  in  the  second  three  sides  of 
that  figure.  These  are  attached,  as  in  the  Stanhope,  behind; 
and,  like  the  Dennet,  before;  but  that  they  generally  have 
leather  braces  instead  of  iron  shackles.  There  is  also  a  perch 
m  the  regular  Mail  fTiaeton,  whicii  is,  however,  sometimes 
dispensed  witii  in  tlie  smaller  kinds  built  in  the  same  general 
form,  but  with  elliptic  springs,  and  then  called  Stanhope 
Phaetons — lucus  a  non  lucendo,  that  is,  because  they  have 
dispensed  with  Stanhope  springs.  This  is  a  curious  exem- 
plification of  the  71071  seqvitur,  and  the  strongest  with  which 
I  am  acquainted;  for  it  really  is  the  fact,  that  the  phaeton 
with  the  Sianhope  springs  is  called  a  Mail  Phaeton,  and  with- 
out them  a  Stanhope  Phaeton. 

The  bodies  of  these  phaetons  are  of  every  form  which  can 


34   HOW   TO   iBREAK,  RIDE   AND  DRIVE  A   HoRSE. 

be  contrived  to  accommodate  four  or  six  persons,  and  they 
rejoice  in  distinguishing  names  almost  without  end,  as,  the 
Pilenlum,  the  Cab-bodied,  the  Sociable  (now  very  fashionable), 
the  George  IV.,  the  Albert,  the  Stanhope,  the  Four-wheeled 
Dog-Cart,  etc.,  etc. 

Four-wheeled  Close  Carriages  are  much  less  numerous, 
and  are  soon  summed  up  under  the  following  short  list: 

First,  the  Family  Coach;  second,  the  Chariot;  third,  the 
Clarence;  fourth,  the  Brougham.  It  is  irue  that  there  are 
inflnite  variations  made  in  each  of  the  above,  but  very  slight 
as  compared  with  the  previously  described  carriages. 

The  Coach  has  the  same  C  and  under  springs  as  the 
britschka,  with  the  perch-  also.  It  is,  however,  completely 
covered  in,  having  only  a  single  glass  on  each  side,  capable 
of  being  raised  or'lowered. 

The  Chariot  is  similar  in  all  respects  to  the  coach,  except 
that  it  only  holds  two.  and  has  glasses  in  front  as  well  as 
on  the  sides.  This  carriage,  when  made  to  open,  is  called  a 
Landaulet. 

The  CLA.RENCE  has  a  light  body,  to  hold  fou^but  placed  on 
elliptic  or  grasshopper  springs^  and  without  a  perch.  It  is 
much  lighter  in  every  way  than  the  coach,  but  neither  so 
easy  nor  so  free  from  noise.  From  its  lightness  it  is  still 
mucli  used  in  the  country,  but  in  New  York  it  is  now  becom- 
ing again  supplanted  by  the  carriages  with  C  springs. 

The  Brougham  is  to  the  Clarence  what  the  chariot  is  to  the 
coach,  but  some  Broughams  are  so  made  as  to  hold  four  peo- 
ple, and  are  then  called  round-fronted  Broughams.  Their 
great  advantage  is,  that  they  may  tolerably  well  be  used 
with  one  horse,  which  to  many  people  is  a  great  object.  Of 
late  a  spring  has  been  invented,  by  which  the  C  spring  is  in- 
troduced without  the  perch,  which  is  generally  connected  with 
that  soft  and  yielding  kind  of  spring.  This  is  said  to  remedy 
the  great  defects  of  these  carriages,  namely,  their  peculiar 
hum  to  the  ear  of  the  inside  traveler,  which  becomes  very  dis- 
tressing after  a  time,  and  to  avoid  it  small  chariots  have  been 
for  some  years  built  with  light  iron  perches.  Their  weight, 
however,  is  nearly  double  that  of  an  ordinary  Brougham,  and 
they  are  quite  beyond  the  powers  of  one  horse  for  more  than 
a  very  short  drive. 

I  have  never  myself  tried  the  spring,  but  it  appears  to  me 
to  be  a  very  useful  mode  of  doing  away  with  some  part  of  the 
jar  and  noise  incidental  to  the  Brougham :  nevertheless,  that 
connected  with  the  fore-spring  must  still  remain,  and.  con- 
sequenth',  I  am  afraid  the  object  is  only  in  part  attained;  but, 
as  I  before  remarked,  I  have  not  put  the  matter  to  the  test  by 
actual  experiment. 


HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A   HORSE.     35 

HARNESS. 

Harness  is  diflerently  eonstrucLed,  according  to  the  pur- 
pose fur  which  it  is  intended.  Thus  there  are  the  following— 
viz.,  gig  harness,  phaeton  harness,  chariot  harness,  tandem 
harness,  and  four-horse  harness,  according  as  each  variety  is 
intended  for  the  purpose  of  being  attached  to  the  kind  of  car- 
riage prefixed  to  the  general  title. 

Gig  Harness,  which  is  equally  suitable  for  single  horse 
phaetons,  or,  in  fact,  for  any  single  work,  consists  of  three 
poriions— first,  the  drawing  part;  secondly,  the  part  for  hold- 
ing the  shafts  of  the  gig  up  and  back;  and  thirdly,  that  for 
guiding  the  horse. 

The  Drawing  Part  consists  of  the  Collar,  which  is  an 
oval  ring  padded  to  fit  the  shoulders,  or  of  a  Breast  Strap, 
being  merely  a  broad  and  padded  strap,  crossing  in  front  of 
the  shoulder  parts.  If  tlie  collar  is  used,  two  iron  bars, 
called  Hames,  are  buckled  on  eacli  side  by  means  of  a  leather 
strap  at  top  and  bottom,  called  a  Hame  Strap,  which  passes 
through  an  eye  at  the  end  of  each  hame,  and  is  afterward 
drawn  tight  and  buckled.  Toward  the  top  of  each  hame  is  a 
ring,  called  a  Hame  Terret,  for  the  reins  to  pass  through  ; 
and  a  little  below  the  middle  there  is  an  arm,  with  a  metal 
eye,  to  which  the  Tug  of  the  trace  is  attached.  This  tug, 
again,  is  stitched  into  a  double  piece  of  leather,  which  is 
attached  to  the  buckle  for  the  Trace.  This  last  is 
simply  a  long  double  leather  strap,  attached  at  one  end  to 
the  above  buckle,  and  to  the  other  by  an  eye  to  the  drawing 
bar  of  the  gig. 

The  supporting  and  backing  part  consists  of  the  Pad  or 
Saddle,  somewhat  similar  in  principle  to  the  riding  saddle, 
but  much  narrower  and  lighter.  This  has  two  rings  for  the 
reins,  called  the  Terrets,  and  a  Hook  for  the  bearing  rein, 
all  at  the  top.  It  is  fastened  to  the  horse  by  a  Belly-Band, 
and  at  the  back  of  it  there  is  an  eye  for  the  crupper,  whicli  is 
a  leather  strap  from  it  to  the  tail,  round  the  root  of  which  it 
))a8ses,  and  thus  holds  the  pad  from  pressing  forward. 
Through  the  middle  of  the  pad  passes  a  strong  leather  strap, 
called  the  Back-Band,  which  is  attached  to  a  buckle  and 
strong  loop  on  each  side,  called  the  Shaft  Tug,  by  which  the 
shaft  is  supported,  and  also  kept  back  from  pressing  upon 
the  horse's  quarters,  in  which  latter  office  it  is  sometimes  as- 
sisted by  a  leather  strap  passing  round  these  parts  and  buckled 
on  each  side,  either  to  the  shaft  or  to  its  tug,  and  called  the 
Breechen. 

The  part  for  guiding  the  horse  consists  of  the  Bridle  and 
the  Reins,  the  former  being  made  use  of,  two  Cheek-pieces, 
ftqd  Winkers,  a  Throat-lash,  a  Nose-band,  a  Face-strap, 


RIDE   AND   DRIVE   A  HORSE. 

a  FrOxVt-piece  and  a  Head-piece.  The  cheek-pieces  are 
buckled  to  the  Bit,  which  is  generally  a  strong  curb,  but 
sometimes  only  a  Double-Ringed  Snaffle,  now  very  com- 
monly used  in  driving.  The  Reins  are  merely  long  and  nar- 
row strips  of  leather  passing  from  the  bit  through  the  hame 
and  pad-terrets  to  the  driver's  hand.  Bearing-reins  are  ad- 
ditional reins  attached  to  bridoon  bits,  and  passing  through 
earrings  on  or  near  the  throat-lash  to  the  hook  on  the  pad. 
They  are,  however,  now  seldom  used  in  single  harness.  Wliere 
tlie  bearing-rein  is  not  used,  a  long  ear-ring  is  now  sometimes 
suspended^from  the  head  of  the  bridle,  through  which  the  driv- 
ing rein  passes,  and  by  which  the  horse  is  prevented  from  get- 
ting there  in  under  the  point  of  the  shaft,  an  accident  which 
is  very  annoying  to  those  who  leave  their  horses  standing 
about  with  their  servants. 

Phaeton  and  Chariot  Harness  are  both  made  on  the 
same  principle,  diflering  only  in  lightness  both  of  leather  and 
ornament,  the  former  being  altogether  much  less  heavy  than 
the  latter. 

Double    harness  consists,    like  single  harness,    of   three 
essential  parts  ;  but  as  there  is  no  shaft  to  be  supported,  the 
pad  is  much  lighter  and  more  simple.     The  drawing  part  is 
similar  to  that  already  described,  except  that  the  lower  eyes 
of  the  hames  are  permanently  connected  by  an  oval  ring  of 
metal,  upon  the  lower  part  of  which  a  ring  freely  travels,  on 
which  the  pole  piece  of  the  carriage  is  buckled,  and  by  which 
it  is  backed.     The  trace-buckles,  ^Iso,  are  opposite  the  pad, 
and  supported  from  it  by  a  light  strap,  called  the  Trace- 
bearer.     The  traces  themselves  either  end  with  an  eye,  or, 
with  a  full-fold  upon  themselves,  with  an  iron  eye,  called  a 
Roller,  and  intended  to  be  used  upon  the  Roller-bolt  of  the 
splinter-bar.     The  Pad  is  very  light,  and  has  no  back-band; 
sometimes  a  long  Breechen  runs  to  tlie  trace-buckle;  but 
for  light   harness   a   mere  supporting  strap  for  the  traces, 
called  a  Hip-strap,  is  all  that  is  used.     The' Bridle  is  nearly 
tliQ  same  as  for  single  harness,  except  that  there  are  no  orna- 
ments on   that  side  which  is  toward  the  pole.     The  Reins 
have,  in  addition  to  the  single  rein  which  is  attached   to  the 
outside  of  each  horse's  bit,  another  called  a  Coupling-rein, 
which   has  a  buckle  toward   the   driver   running   upon  the 
driving-rein,  so  that  it  may  be  taken  up  or  let  out  ai  pleas- 
ure.    These  coupling-reins  are  attached  to  the  inside  of  the 
bit  of  the  opposite  horse,  crossing  one  another  after  they 
have  been  passed  through  both  the  pad  and  hame-terrets,  so 
tiiat  the  oft'  driving-rein,  with  its  coupling-rein,  pulls  the  off 
side  of  the  bits  of  each  horse,  and  the  near  reins  both  the 
near  sides, 


HOW   TO   BREAK,    RIDE   AND  DRIVE  A   HORSE.      3T 

In  double-harness,  bearir.g- reins  may  or  may  not  be  used, 
but  ihey  are  generally  included  in  its  purchase. 

Tandem  Harness  consists  of  a  single  harness  for  the  horse 
in  the  shafts,  called  the  "wheeler,"  vviih  the  addition  only  of 
double  terrets  on  the  pad,  for  the  leader's  reins  to  pass 
through,  and  also  of  a  double  ear-ring  for  the  same  purpose. 
The  leader  has  harness  of  the  same  description  as  the  light 
phaeton  double  harness,  except  that  both  sides  of  the  bridle 
are  alike,  and  that  the  traces  are  about  six  feet  longer  than 
for  ordinary  work.  Tiiey  have  a  swivel-hook,  by  which  they 
are  attached  either  to  the  points  of  the  shafts  or  to  the  wheel- 
er's trace-buckles,  where  the  shafts  have  no  eyes  for  the  pur- 
pose. 

Four- Horse  Harness  consists  of  that  for  the  wheelers,  like 
chariot  harness,  with  double  terrets,  and  one  on  the  head- 
piece instead  of  the  ear-ring.  The  leaders  have  the  same  as 
the  tandem  leader's  harness,  except  that  when  they  are  driven 
"  four-in-hand  "  their  traces  are  shorter,  and  they  end  in  eyes 
or  hooks,  by  which  they  are  attached  to  "serving-bars"  that 
are  suspended  to  a  hook  at  the  end  of  the  pole. 

Whips  vary  in  size  and  length,  from  the  small  light  and 
stout  whip  of  a  pony  phaeton  to  the  four-in-hand  whip  wioh 
a  lash  long  enough  to  reach  the  leader's  head. 
harness-horses. 

Harness-Horses  are  either  ponies,  gig-horses.  Brougham- 
horses,  or  coach-horses ;  being  gradually  lamer  and  heavier 
from  one  end  to  the  other  of  the  line,  which  begins  at  the 
size  of  the  small  pony,  and  extends  up  to  tlie  carnage-horse 
of  17  hands. 

Ponies  are  met  with  all  over  the  United  States,  and  are  of 
various  breeds ;  some  of  which  are  of  wonderful  powers  of 
endurance,  with  good  symmetry  and  action,  and  with  never- 
failing  legs  and  feet.  In  general  soundness  they  far  excel  the 
larger  varieties  of  the  horse,  for  which  there  is  no  account- 
ing, as  they  are  much  more  neglected  and  frequently  very 
ill-used.  A  broken-winded  pony,  or  a  roarer,  is  a  very  un- 
common sight,  and  even  a  lame  one  is  by  no  means  an  every- 
day occurrence.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the 
Arab  blood  has  been  largely  diffused  among  the  ponies  of  our 
heaths  and  forests;  and  their  neat  heads  and  great  powers 
of  endurance,  together  with  the  small  size  of  their  bones, 
would  warrant  the  assumption. 

Among  the  Welsh  ponies  there  is  a  strong  cross  of  the  Nor- 
man horse,  and  they  have  many  of  them  the  dark  mark  down 
the  back  which  is  peculiar  to  that  breed,  together  with  the 
hardiness  of  constitution  inherent  in  it.  Gigsters  of  all  kinds 
are  the  refuse  ol  the  hunting-stock  or  of  the  racing-stud. 


38  HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HoRSE. 

those  which  are  too  clumsy  and  slow  for  those  purposes  being 
put  to  harness.  Some  are  good  trotters  and  yet  bad  gallop- 
ers, and  they  are,  consequently,  as  well  tilted  for  liarness 
work  as  they  are  unsuited  for  hunting.  A  great  number  of 
gigsters  are  also  under-sized  carriage-horses,  which  last  are 
the  produce  of  Cleveland  or  Clydesdale  mares  by  well-bred  or 
even  thorough-bred  horses.  Until  lately  the  Cleveland  mare 
was  almost  the  sole  origin,  on  the  dam's  side,  of  our  best 
carriage-horses;  but  latterly  the  Clydesdale  mare  has  been 
very  extensively  used,  and  with  much  better  success;  inas- 
much as  the  produce  are  much  more  hardy,  and  though,  per- 
haps, not  quite  so  level,  yet  more  blood-like,  and  their  legs 
and  feet  much  more  firm  and  enduring.  This  is,  I  believe, 
the  best  cross  in  the  world  for  general  harness  work,  and  it 
will  beat  the  Cleveland  breed  in  every  respect. 

A  noted  horseman  first  recommended  the  adoption  of  the 
cross  direct  between  the  Cleveland  mare  and  the  thorough* 
bred  horse,  and  his  name  and  authority  have  kept  up  the 
practice  ever  since;  but  it  is  now  at  last  discovered  that  as 
far  as  legs  go  they  are  an  unprofitable  sort,  and  that  they 
stand  road-work  almost  worse  than  any  others,  except  an 
unsound  race-horse.  I  am  in  great  hopes  that  the  Clydesdale 
mare  will  turn  out  a  very  much  better  substitute:  and  that 
her  produce  will  not  only  be  useful  as  carriage  horses,  but  as 
the  dams  of  three  quarters  and  seven -eighths- bred  road- 
horses  and  hunters.  There  is  a  fine  roomy  frame  to  go  upon, 
with  great  ragged  hips,  flat  clean  legs,  and  good  heads,  and 
with  tempers  which  are  fit  to  be  taught  anything.  The  con- 
stitution also  is  good,  and  in  every  respect  this  breed  appears 
to  me  calculated  for  the  purpose  I  am  now  discussing;  and 
from  the  numerous  good  specimens  I  have  seen  resulting 
from  the  first  cross,  I  am  induced  to  hope  that  the  expecta- 
tions of  those  who  have  adopted  it  will  be  fully  realized. 

HARNESSING   AND    PUTTING-TO. 

Harnessing.  —In  all  cases  tlie  first  thing  to  be  done,  after 
the  horse  is  dressed,  is  to  put  on  the  collar,  which  is  effected 
by  turning  the  horse  round  in  his  stall,  and  slipping  it  over 
his  head  with  the  large  end  upward.  This  inversion  is  re- 
quired because  the  front  of  the  head  is  the  widest  part,  and 
in  this  way  is  adapted  to  the  widest  part  of  the  collar,  which, 
even  with  this  arrangement,  will  in  coarsely-bred  horses 
hardly  pass  over  the  cheek-bones.  Before  the  collar  is  put 
in  its  place,  the  hames  are  put  on  and  buckled;  for  if  this 
was  delayed  until  after  it  had  been  reversed,  they  would 
have  to  be  held  on  while  the  hame-straps  were  being  drawn 
together,  whereas  in  this  way  their  own  weight  keeps  them 
in  place.    They  are  now  reversed  altogether,  and  the  pad 


HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A   HoRSE.      39 

put  in  its  place;  before  buckling  the  belly-banU  of  which  the 
crupper  is  slipped  over  the  tail  by  doubling  up  all  the  hair, 
and  grasping  it  carefully  in  the  left  hand  while  the  right 
adapts  the  crupper. 

A  careful  examination  should  always  be  made  that  no 
hairs  are  left  under  it,  for  if  they  are  Ihey  irritate  the  skin, 
and  often  cause  a  tit  of  kicking.  After  the  crupper  is  set 
right  the  pad  is  drawn  forward,  and  its  belly-band  buckled 
up  pretty  tightly;  the  bridle  is  now  put  on,  and  the  curb- 
chain  properly  applied,  the  reins  being  slipped  through  the 
lerrets  and  buckled  on  both  sides,  if  for  single  harness,  or  on 
the  outside  only  if  for  double,  and  the  driving-rein  folded  back 
and  tied  in  the  pad  terret, 

Plttinq-to  is  managed  very  differently,  according  to 
whether  the  horse  is  going  in  shafts  or  with  a  pole. 

If  for  shafts,  they  are  lilted  up  and  held  there  by  one 
person,  while  the  other  backs  the  horse  until  he  is  under 
them,  when  they  are  dropped  down,  and  the  tugs  slipped 
under  or  over  the  ends  of  the  shafts,  according  to  the  forma- 
tion of  the  tugs,  some  being  hooks,  and  others  merely  leather 
loops.  Care  must  be  taken  that  they  do  not  slip  beyond  the 
pins  on  the  shafts.  The  traces  are  now  attached  to  the 
drawing-bar,  the  breechen  or  kicking-strap  buckled,  and  the 
false  belly-band  buckled  up  pretty  tightly,  so  as  to  keep  the 
shafts  steady.  In  four-wheeled  carriages  it  should  be  left 
tolerably  loose  when  a  breechen  is  used,  to  allow  of  this 
having  free  play.  The  reins  are  now  untwisted  from  the 
terret,  and  the  horse  is  put  i.o. 

For  double  harness,  the  first  thing  is  to  bring  the  horse 
round  by  the  side  of  the  pole,  and  put  the  pole-piece  through 
the  sliding  rings  of  the  hames,  the  groom  holding  it,  or  else 
buckling  it  at  the  longest  hole  while  the  traces  are  being  put 
to;  as  soon  as  this  is  done  the  pole-piece  is  buckled  up  to  iis 
proper  length,  each  coupling-rein  buckled  to  the  opposite 
horse's  bit,  the  drivmg-reins  untwisted  from  the  terrets,  and 
the  two  buckled  together,  and  the  horses  are  ready.  The 
leaders  of  a  tandem  or  four-in-hand  are  easily  attached,  and 
their  reins  are  passed  through  the  rings  on  the  heads  of  the 
wheelers,  and  through  the  upper  half  of  the  pad  terret. 

Unharnessing  is  exactly  the  reverse  of  the  above,  every- 
thing being  undone  exactly  in  the  same  order  in  which  it  was 
done.  The  chief  errors  in  either  are— in  double  harness,  in 
not  attaching  the  pole-piece  at  once  in  putting  to,  or  in  un- 
buckling it  altogether  too  soon,  by  which  the  horse  is  at 
liberty  to  get  back  upon  the  bars,  and  often  does  consider- 
a'jle  damage  by  kicking. 


40  HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

BREAKING  TO  HARNESS. 

For  Double-Harness  Work,  a  double  break  and  break 
horse  only  are  requii'ed  to  effect  this  object,  and  a  very  short 
time  will  generally  sutflce  to  make  a  young  horse  manage- 
able, if  driven  with  a  steady  companion,  and  by  a  careful 
pair  of  hands.  It  is  some  time  before  he  would  be  fit  for  a 
timid  lady,  but  for  country  work  with  tliose  who  are  not 
alarmed  by  an  occasional  slij;ht  freak,  after  a  week  or  ten 
days,  a  horse  may  safely  be  used. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done,  is  to  put  the  harness  on, "and 
allow  it  to  remain  for  an  hour  or  two  during  the  two  or  three 
days  before  the  horse  is  driven.  Previously  to  this  he  should 
be  thoroughly  broken  to  the  saddle,  because  be  will  not  other- 
wise know  the  use  of  the  bit,  and  without  that  he  will  be  en- 
tirely unmanageable.  It  was  formerly  a  very  common  practice 
to  break  carriage-horses  at  plow,  by  putting  them  in  the  mid- 
dle of  a  team,  and  letting  them  jump  and  kick  till  they  were 
tired;  but  this  is  a  bad  plan,  and  many  horses  have  been 
spoiled  both  in  limb  and  temper  by  it. 

Curbs  and  spavins  are  very  commonly  caused  by  the  strug- 
gles of  a  high-couraged  horse;  and  jibbing  will  often  ensue 
as  a  consequence  in  a  bad-tempered  or  sluggish  one.  The 
hot  blood  derived  from  the  Eastern  horse  leads  these  colts  to 
plunge  and  fisht  against  restraint,  in  a  very  difl'erent  way 
from  the  dulland  phlegmatic  cart-horse;  and,  therefore,  the 
plan  is  now  discarded  in  favor  of  the  break,  where  the  colt 
has  the  power  of  moving  forward,  to  some  extent,  in  all  his 
plunges,  if  any,  and  his  blood  is  not  unnecessarily  roused  by 
resistance.  After  he  has  been  made  accustomed  to  the  har- 
ness, he  is  ))»it  in  with  the  break  horse,  an  animal  of  great 
power,  size^  and  steadiness.  The  break  hors6  sliould  first  be 
put  to,  and  the  break  brought  out  into  a  toleral)ly  open 
place,  where  it  may  start  on  level  ground,  or  with  a  very 
slight  ascent.  The  break  is  built  very  strongly,  and  should 
have  the  space  between  the  drawing-bar  and  the  front  axle- 
tree  made  up  with  iron  rods,  so  that  if  a  horse  kicks  over  the 
har  his  legs  do  not  fall,  but  he  draws  them  back  again  at 
once.  The  bar  also  should  be  padded,  to  prevent  him  dam- 
agmg  himself  in  his  violence,  if  he  plunges  and  kicks  as  some 
will  do.  The  colt  should  have  a  well-fitting  collar  on,  and  it 
should  be  previously  well-oiled,  to  prevent  iis  fretting  the 
skin;  he  should  also  have  a  common  rope  halter  on,  with  the 
end  tied  loosely  to  the  hame  terret,  so  that  the  breaksman 
can  lay  hold  of  it,  and  draw  him  toward  him,  without  touch- 
ing his  mouth. 

When  all  is  ready,  and  the  two  horses  are  put  together, 
with  the  driver  on  tiie  box,  the  break  horse  is  gently  touched 
with  the  whip,  and  takes  the  break  off  very  quietly,  the 


RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE.      41 

hreaksniau  walking  by  the  side,  and  encouraging  the  colt. 
Generally  speaking,  be  walks  off"  as  quietly  as  possible,  or  he 
may  make  a  bounce  or  two,  but  at  tirst  he  does  not  seem  to 
recognize  his  fetters;  after  a  while,  however,  he  will  often 
plunge  more  or  less,  and  perhaps,  if  viciously  inclined,  begin 
to  kick.  The  break  should  be  steadily  driven  off",  and  kept 
going  for  an  hour,  or  rather  more,  but  not  much  longer,  as 
the  shoulders  are  very  apt  to  be  galled  by  a  persistence  be- 
yond that  time.  This  lesson  is  repeated  every  day,  until  the 
iiorse  learns  to  turn  and  hold  back;  and  it  is  astonishing  how 
soon  a  good-tempered  horse  takes  to  his  new  work. 

Knee-caps  should  in  all  cases  be  put  on,  to  prevent  blem- 
ishes in  case  of  any  accidents. 

For  Single  Work;  every  horse  should  first  be  put  in 
double  harness,  and  driven  at  least  five  or  six  times.  It  is 
not  generally  at  first  that  vice  shows  itself,  and  frequently 
not  until  the  fourth  or  fifth  lesson,  when  the  driver  begins  to 
try  what  the  colt  is  made  of  by  giving  him  a  short  gallop, 
with  a  stroke  or  two  of  the  whip.  And  until  this  has  been 
done  no  one  can  foretell  what  the  colt  will  do  under  provo- 
cation, which  is  sure  to  come  some  lime  or  other.  When, 
however,  this  has  been  tried,  and  the  colt  will  turn  to  either 
side,  stop,  and  back,  as  well  as  throw  himself  in  his  breechen 
in  going  downhill,  he  may  safely  be  put  into  single  harness, 
though  at  the  same  time  with  great  care.  Some  horses  are 
at  all  tinr.es  quiet  in  double  harness,  and  yet  will  never  ^'o  in 
single  harness,  of  whicii  I  have  had  several  specimens. 

I  once  had  a  most  inveterate  kicker  in  single  harnesR, 
which  would  go  as  quietly  as  possible  in  double;  and  I  have 
had  several  bad  jibbers  which  never  showed  that  tendency 
for  some  time  after  breaking.  When  the  horse  is  first  put  in 
single  harness  it  should  be  in  a  break  expressly  n-ade  with 
strong  and  stout  shafts,  and  high  enough  to  prevent  his 
kicking  over;  though  some  liorses  are  able  to  kick  over  any- 
thing, and  no  kicking-strap  will  hold  them  down.  A  safety- 
rr in  should  be  added,  buckled  on  to  the  lower  bar  of  the  bit, 
and  pn-sed  through  a  ring  on  the  tug  and  by  the  side  of  the 
dashboard  up  to  the  hand,  where  it  may  be  held  ready  for 
ufe  in  case  of  the  horse  attempting  to  bolt.  For  ordinary 
use  the  rein  should  be  put  to  the  cheek,  so  as  to  be  as  little 
irksome  to  the  horse  as  possible,  and  no  bearing-rein  should 
on  any  account  be  used. 

With  these  precautions,  and  with  the  aid  of  a  brcaksman 
and  a  liberal  quantity  uf  patience  most  horses  may  be 
broken  in.  When  there  is  a  great  resistance  to  the  breaking 
to  ^ngle  harness,  or  a  tendency  to  jib  or  run  away,  a  stout 
shaft  maj  be  furnished  with  a  projecting  bar  of  iron,  and  an 
out-rigger  applied  to  the  splinter-bar,  by  which  a  second  bar 


42  HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSB. 

is  fixed:  and  then  a  break-liorse  may  be  attached  outekle 
tlie  shafts,  and  thus  the  colt  is  then  coniptlled  to  go  on  or 
s:op  by  the  power  of  the  steady  and  tiained  horse.  In  this 
mode  the  reins  are  applied  as  for  pair-horse  driving,  and  it 
is  a  very  excellent  way  of  breaking  unruly  horses;  indeed.  I 
liave  known  it  succeed  when  all  other  means  had  failed 
in  an  obstinate  kicker;  but  only,  however,  for  a  lime,  as  the 
vice  showed  itself  nearly  as  bad  as  ever  after  a  time. 

DRIVING. 

Driving  a  Single  Horse  is  a  very  simple  process,  and  re- 
quires only  a  good  hand  and  eye. 

The  reins  are  held  difierently  from  riding,  the  near  rein  pass- 
ing over  the  forefinger,  and  the  off  bet\\een  it  and  the  niiil- 
dle  linger;  and  then  through  the  hand,  descending  from  the 
palm  by  the  side  of  tlie  knees.  The  thumb  keeps  the  near  rein 
tirnily  against  the  forefinger,  and  1  have  always  found  it  a 
good  plan  to  pass  both  reins  out  of  the  hand  *  between  the 
little  and  ring-firgers,  so  that  without  keeping  the  thumb 
very  firmly  fixed,  they  do  not  slip  through  the  fingers  when 
the  horse  makes  a  mistake.  This  has  saved  me  many  an  ac- 
cident, because  when  a  person  is  tired  with  driving  many 
miles,  and  the  attention  flags,  a  horse,  in  making  a  mistake, 
is  not  checked  til:  it  is  too  late,  in  consequence  of  the  thumb 
and  forefinger  suflering  the  rein  to  slip  some  inches  before  it 
is  held  firns-ly  between  them;  but  when  paesing  through  an 
additional  })air  of  fingers,  and  making  an  angle  in  order  to  do 
this,  it  is  astonishing  how  firmly  the  reins  are  held,  and  yet 
with  how  niuch  less  fatigue  to  the  hand. 

The  bearing-rein  is  now  almost  totally  out  of  use  in  single 
harness,  v\here  it  is  no  more  needed  than  for  riding,  because 
the  driver  has  even  more  command  of  the  mouth  than  if  he 
were  in  the  saddle.  There  is  no  doubt  that  a  bearing-rein  is 
better  than  a  careless  driver;  but  with  ordinary  care  the  horse 
is  saved  by  a  slight  check,  which  does  not  keep  him  up,  but 
makes  him  ke^'p  himself  up.  This  he  is  pai  ily  prevented  from 
doing  from  the  confinement  of  the  head,  caueed  by  the  bear- 
ing-rein, and,  therefore,  although  it  is  useful  in  driving  the 
horse  to  hold  the  head  up,  it  is  injurious  to  an  equal  extent 
by  confining  him  from  that  quick  exertion  of  his  powers 
which  might  save  him  from  a  fall.  It  is  true  that  many  old 
horses  which  have  been  Used  to  lean  upon  the  bearing-rein 
Cannot  be  safely  driven  without;  but  in  most  of  those  which 
have  never  been  accustomed  to  its  use,  it  may  safely  be  dis- 
pensed with.  I  luive  had  some  few  which  never  ccild  be 
trusted  without  a  bearing-rein,  even  though  broken-in  care* 
fully  for  me;  but  tliis  was  from  defective  action,  and  from 
that  straight-necked  form  which  is  almost  sure  to  lead  to  a 
heavy  j;ar»cing  upon  the  bit. 


HIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE.      4o 

It  is  asLonish'mg  how  seldom  one  sees  a  London  cab-liorse 
down  now  us  conii)ured  with  former  years,  when  this  rein 
was  ill  j^eiieral  use,  and  yet  ihese  horses  are  quite  as  hard 
worked  as  ever,  and  ofle'j  witii  scarcely  one  good  leg  out  of 
the  four.  But  with  Iheir  heads  at  liberty,  and  only  a  double- 
ringed  snaffle,  they  rarely  make  a  mistake;  or,  if  they  do, 
they  are  almost  sure  to  save  themselves  from  it.  Too  tight 
a  rein  is  quite  as  bad  as  holding  it  too  loose,  and  a  gagged 
horse  will  be  so  conlined  in  his  action  as  to  be  always  mak- 
ing mistakes.  The  head  should  have  a  tolerable  degree  of 
liberty,  the  mouth  just  feeling  tiie  hand,  so  as  in  a  good 
mouth  to  lead  to  tliat  playicg  with  the  bit  which  is  the  per- 
fection of  breaking  and  driving.  By  this  1  mean  that  ten- 
dency to  keep  'vithin  the  bit  and  to  avoid  its  pressure  which 
a  fine  mouth  will  always  show;  and  yet  when  tiiere  is  high 
courage,  a  constant  desire  to  press  forward  as  soon  as  the 
hand  is  at  all  relaxed;  up  a  steep  hill,  the  head  should  have 
entire  liberty,  while  down-hill  the  hand  should  be  shortened 
upon  the  rein,  and,  with  his  knees  straight,  and  the  feet  well 
out,  the  driver  should  be  prepared  for  a  mistake,  and  ready 
to  assist  if  it  is  made,  not  by  violently  dragging  at  the  head, 
but  by  checking  sufficiently  without  gagging  the  horse. 

The  mere  avoiding  of  other  \ehicles  in  meeting  or  passing 
is  too  simple  an  aftair  to  require  minute  description. 

In  Driving  a  Pair,  the  great  art  consists  in  putting  them 
together,  so  as  to  draw  equally,  and  to  step  together. 

To  do  this  well,  the  horses  must  match  in  action  and  tem- 
per, two  slugs  being  much  better  than  a  free-tempered  horse 
and  a  slug;  because  in  this  case  the  whip  applied  to  the  one 
only  makes  the  other  more  free,  and  as  a  consequence  it  is 
impossible  to  make  them  draw  equally.  In  some  cases  where 
two  horses  are  exactly  equally  matched,  the  coupling-reins 
must  both  be  of  equal  length;  but  this  is  seldom  the  case; 
and  when  they  do  not  do  an  equal  amount  of  work,  the  coup- 
ling rein  of  the  free  one  must  be  taken  up,  and  that  of  the 
idle  horse  let  out.  In  watching  the  working  of  the  two  horses 
the  pole-pieces  should  always  be  the  guide;  and  if  both  are 
slack,  iwith  the  end  of  the  pole  steady,  and  neither  horse 
shouldering  it,  the  driver  may  rest  contented  that  his  horses 
are  each  doing  their  share;  if,. however,  the  pole  is  shouldered 
by  either,  that  horse  is  a  rogue,  and  is  making  the  other  do 
more  than  his  share,  and  keeping  the  pole  straigiit  by  the  press- 
ure of  his  shoulder,  instead  of  pulling  at  the  traces.  On  the 
other  hand,  if  either  horse  is  pulling  away  from  the  pole,  and 
straining  at  the  pole-piece,  he  is  doing  more  than  his  share, 
and  his  coupling-rein  must  be  taken  in  accordingly.  Some- 
times both  shoulder  the  pole,  or  spread  from  it,  which  are 
equally  unsightly  habits,  and  may  generally  be  cured  by  an  al- 


44  HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

teration  of  the  coupling-reins  of  botli  liorses,  letting  them  out 
for  shouldering,  and  taking  them  in  for  its  opposite  l)ail 
habit.  The  reins  are  held  in  the  same  way  for  donble-liurnefs 
as  for  single. 

Bearing- reins  are  more  necessary  here  than  in  single-hai-- 
ness,  because  there  is  not  the  same  immediate  command  of 
a  horse;  but  in  tolerably  active  and  safe  goers  there  is  little 
necessity  for  them;  it  is  only  vvhen  horses  stand  about  much 
that  they  are  wanted,  and  then  only  for  display;  but  for  tiiis 
they  certainly  are  of  service,  as  the  horse  stands  m  a  very 
proud  and  handsome  attitude  when  "borne  up,''  and  the 
pair  match  much  better  whej  they  are  suffered  to  stand  at 
ease. 

In  driving  a  pair,  it  should  always  be  remembered  that 
tliere  are  two  methods  of  driving  round  a  curve,  one  by  pull- 
ing the  inside  rein,  and  tlie  other  by  hitting  the  outside  horse, 
<ind  these  two  should  generally  be  combined,  graduating  the 
use  of  the  whip  by  the  thinness  of  tlie  skin  of  the  horse.  In 
all  cases  the  whip  is  required  in  double-harness,  if  not  to 
drive  horses  wlien  thoroughly  put  together,  yet,  to  make  them 
pull  equally;  and  there  iire  very  few  pairs  which  do  not  oc- 
casionally want  a  little  reminding  of  their  duties.  A  con- 
stant change  from  one  side  to  the  other  is  a  prevention  of 
those  tricks  and  bad  habits  which  horses  get  into  if  they  are 
always  kept  to  one  side  only.  The  coachman  should,  there- 
fore, change  them  every  now  and  then,  and  back  again,  so 
as  to  make  what  was  a  puller  from  the  pole  rather  bear  to- 
ward it  than  otherwise  when  put  on  tlie  other  side. 

Various  Devices  are  used  by  old  hands  for  curing  vices  in 
harness  horses. 

The  kicking-strap  in  single  harness  is  merely  a  strap  over 
the  croup,  buckled  down  to  the  shafts;  and  in  double  harness 
a  somewhat  similar  plan  is  adopted,  but  of  little  use  as  com- 
pared with  that  used  in  single  harness.  Besides  these  there 
are  side-reins,  martingales,  and  a  variety  of  other  schemes 
invented;  l)ut  every  one  who  is  likely  to  want  them  has  his 
own  peculiar  id^as  on  the  subject,  and  it  will  be  unnecessary 
for  me  to  go  into  a  description  of  them. 

MISCELLANEOUS  RECEIPTS. 


FOR    COLIC. 

No.  1.  Take  of  laudanum,  1  ounce,  spirits  of  turpentine, 
1  1-2  ounces,  mix,  and  give  to  one  dose  in  three  times  tlie 
amount  of  warm  water. 


HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DUlVE  A   UORSE.      45 

No.  2.  Sulphuric  eLlier,  1  1-2  ounces,  lautlanum,  1  ounce, 
essence  peppermint,  2  ounces,  water,  IG  ounces,  mix,  and 
shal<e  well  before  giving. 

FOR    HEAVES. 

No.  I.  One  teaspoonful  of  lobelia,  given  in  the  feed  once 
a  day,  for  a  week,  and  then  once  or  twice  a  week  will  slop 
ihem  for  a  time. 

No.  2.  Balsam  copaiba,  1  oz.,  spts.  of  turpentine,  2  oz., 
balsam  fir,  1  oz.,  cider  vinegar,  16  oz.,  mix,  and  give  a  tabie- 
spooi:l'ul  once  a  day. 

No.  3.  Saltpeter,  1  ounce,  indigo,  1-2  ounce,  rain  water, 
four  pints,  mix,  and  give  a  pint  twice  a  day. 

No.  4.  Licorice,  elecampane,  wild  turnip,  fenugreek, 
skunk-cabbage,  lobelia,  cayenne,  and  ginger  equal  pares  of 
each,  mix,  and  give  a  tablespoon ful  once  or  twice  a  day;  if 
the  horse  refuses  to  eat  it  in  feed,  make  into  a  ball  and 
give. 

CONTRACTED    HOOF    OR   SORE   FEET. 

No.  1.  Take  equal  parts  of  soft  fat,  yellow  wax,  linseed 
oil,  Venice  turpentine,  and  Norway  tar;  first  melt  the  wax, 
then  add  the  otliers,  mixing  thoroughly.  Apply  to  the  edge 
of  the  hair  once  a  day. 

No.  2.  Benzine,  1  ounce,  salts  of  niter,  1  ounce,  alcohol, 
3  ounces,  aqua  ammonia,  2  ounces,  Venice  turpentine,  8 
ounces.  Mix.  apply  to  the  edge  of  the  hair,  and  all  over  tlie 
hoof  once  a  day,  for  ten  days,  then  twice  a  week  for  a  short 
time. 

No.  3.  Rosin,  4  ounces,  lard,  8  ounces;  heat  them  over  a 
slow  fire,  then  take  off  and  add,  po.  verdigris,  1  ounce,  stir 
well  to  prevent  it  running  over;  when  partly  cool,  add  spirits 
turpentine,  2  ounces.  Apply  to  the  hoof  about  one  inch 
down  from  the  hair. 

HORSE    LINIMENTS. 

No.  1.  Oil  spike,  oil  origanum,  oil  hemlock,  oil  worm- 
wood, aqua  ammonia,  camphor  gum,  of  each  2  ounces,  olive 
oil,  4  ounces,  alcohol,  one  quart.  Mix.  Tliis  is  an  excellent 
liniment  for  man  or  beast. 

No.  2.  Oil  origanum,  oil  amber,  sweet  oil,  of  each  one 
ounce,  oil  spike,  aqua  ammonia,  and  oil  of  turpentine,  of 
each,  two  ounces.     Mix. 

No.  3.  Linseed  oil,  8  ounces,  turpentine,  8  ounces,  oil 
origanum,  4  ounces.  Mix  well.  Tliis  is  excellent  for  sprains 
and  bruises,  and  as  a  general  liniment  is  good. 

No.  4.  Oil  spike,  1  ounce,  oil  origanum,  2  ounces,  alcohol, 
16  ounces.     Good  for  lameness  from  almost  any  cause. 

No.  5.  Take  equal  parts,  alcohol,  chloroform,  aqua  ammo- 
nia, Jamaica  rum  and  water.    Mix. 


46  HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

FOR   SCRATCHES   AND   GREASE    HEEL. 

No.  1.  Balsam  fir,  4  ounces,  lard,  4  ounces.  Stir  with  a 
gentle  heat  until  thoroughly  mixed.  Wash  the  sores  well 
with  castlle  soap,  and  apply. 

No.  2.  Sugar  of  lead,  2  oz.,  borax,  1  oz.,  sweet  oil,  6  oz., 
mix,  and  apply  twice  daily  after  wasiiing  with  castile  soap, 
and  drying. 

No.  3.  Tincture  of  myrrh,  2  oz.,  glycerine,  4  oz.,  tincture 
of  arnica,  2  oz.  Mix  thoroughly  and  apply  two  or  three  times 
a  day,  after  cleansing  as  above  with  castile  soap. 

No.  4.  Take  1-2  oz.,  of  powdered  verdigris,  and  one  pint 
rum,  or  proof  spirits.  Mix,  and  apply  once  or  twice  a  day. 
This  works  nicely  for  grease  heel  or  mud  fever. 

No  5.  Take  of  oxide  of  zinc,  1  drachm,  lard,  1  ounce,  pow- 
dered gum  benzoin,  ten  grains,  camphorated  spirits,  one 
drachm.  Mix  thoroughly  and  rub  on  twice  a  week.  Do  not 
wash  after  the  first  application. 

CUTS,  WOUNDS   AND  SORES. 

No.  1.  Take  of  lard,  4  ounces,  beeswax,  4  ounces,  rosin,  2 
ounces,  carbolic  acid,  1-4  ounces.  Mix  the  three  first  and 
melt,  then  add  the  carbolic  acid,  stirring  until  cool.  This  is 
excellent  for  man  as  well  as  beast. 

No.  2.  Tincture  aloes,  1  ounce,  tincture  myrrh,  1-2  ounce, 
tincture  opium,  1-2  ounce,  water,  four  ounces,  mix,  and  apply 
night  and  morning. 

No.  3.  Tincture  opium,  2  ounces,  tannin,  1-4  ounce.     Mix. 

No.  4.  Carbolic  acid,  1  ounce,  soft  water,  1  quart.     Mix. 

SWEENEY. 

No.  1.     Spanish  flies,  camphor  gum,  and  caj^enne,  of  each 

1  oz.,  alcohol  10  ozs.,  spts.  turpentine,  6  ozs.,  oil  origanum, 

2  ozs.     Mix. 

No.  2.  Alcohol,  16  ozs.,  spirits  turpentine,  10  ozs.,  muri- 
ate of  ammonia,  1  oz.     Mix. 

No.  3.  Alcohol,  water,  spirits  of  turpentine  and  soft  soap, 
of  each  1  pint,  salt,  6  ozs.     Mix. 

POLL  EVIL  AND   FISTULA. 

No.  1.  Copperas,  1  drachm,  blue  vitriol,  2  drachms,  com- 
mon salt  2  drachms,  white  vitriol,  1  drachm ;  mix  and  powder 
fine.  Fill  a  goose-quill  with  the  powder,  and  push  it  to  the 
bottom  of  the  pipe,  having  a  stick  in  the  top  of  the  quill,  so 
that  you  can  push  ihe  powder  out  of  the  quill,  leaving  it  at 
the  bottom  of  the  pipe;  repeat  again  in  about  four  daj's,  and 
in  two  or  tliree  days  from  that  time  you  can  take  hold  of  the 
pipe  and  remove  it  without  trouble. 

No.  2.  Tincture  of  opium,  1  drachm,  potash,  2  drachms, 
water,  1  ounce;  mix,  and  when  dissolved  inject  into  the  pipes 


HIDE  AND   DRIVE   A   HORSE.     47 

vviih  a  small  syringe,  having  cleansed  the  sore  with  soap- 
suds; repeat  every  two  days  until  the  pipes  are  completely 
dest  royed. 

No.  3.  Take  a  small  piece  cf  lunar  caustic,  place  in  the 
pipe,  after  being  cleansed  with  soap-suds,  then  till  the  hole 
with  sweet  oil. 

BOTS. 

Take  new  milk,  2  quarts,  syrup,  1  quart,  mix  and  give  the 
whole,  and  in  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  after  give  2  quarts  of 
warm,  strong  sage  tea;  half  an  hour  after  the  tea,  give  1 
quart  of  linseed  oil,  or  if  the  oil  cannot  be  had  give  lard  in- 
stead. 

OINTMENT   FOR   HORSES. 

Bees-wax,  2  ounces,  rosin,  3  ounces,  lard,  4  ounces,  car- 
bolic acid,  1  drachm,  honey,  1-2  ounce,  melt  all  together  and 
bring  slowly  to  a  boil,  then  remove  from  the  fire,  and  add 
slowly  1  gill  of  spirits  of  turpentine,  stirring  all  the  time 
until  cool ;  used  with  good  success  for  galls,  cracked  heels, 
flesh  wounds  or  bruises. 

CONDITION   POWDERS. 

No.  1.  Gentian,  fenugreek,  sulphur,  saltpeter,  cream  of 
tartar,  of  each  2  ounces,  rosin,  black  antimony,  of  eacli  1  oz., 
ginger,  licorice,  3  ozs.  each,  cayenne,  1  oz.,  pulverized  and 
mized  thoroughly;  dose,  1  tablespoonful,  once  or  twice  a 
day,  mixed  with  the  feed;  used  with  good  success  for  coughs, 
colds,  distemper,  hidebound,  and  nearly  all  diseases  for  which 
Condition  Powders  are  given. 

No.  2,  Fenugreek,  4  ozs.,  ginger,  G  ozs.,  anise,  pulver- 
ized, 4  ozs.,  gentian,  2  ozs.,  black  antimony,  2  ozs.,  hard 
wood  ashes,  4  ozs.;  mix  all  together;  excellent  to  give  a 
horse  an  appetite. 

No.  3.  Licorice,  4  ozs.,  fenugreek,  4  ozs.,  elecampane,  4 
ozs.,  blood  root,  1  oz.,  tartar  emetic  1-2  oz.,  ginger  and  cay- 
enne, each  1  oz. ;  mix  and  give  a  tablespoonful  two  or  three 
times  a  day  in  the  feed.  One  of  the  best  condition  powders 
for  any  cough,  cold,  distemper  or  epizootic;  also  excellent 
for  heaves.  For  heaves,  1  oz.  of  lobelia  and  camphor  may 
be  added. 

LINIMENTS   FOR   HCRSES. 

No.  1.  Olive  oil,  2  ozs.,  aqua  ammonia,  1  oz. ;  mix  and 
add  2  ozs.  oil  origanum,  2  ozs.  spirits  of  turpentine,  1-2  oz. 
oil  of  wormwoodj  1  pint  strongest  alcohol;  mix.  Tiiis  lini- 
ment la  excellent  for  any  lameness,  also  good  for  spavins, 
ringbones,  curbs,  etc.,  if  used  when  they  make  thfi  first  ap- 
pearance. 


48   HOW   TO   BREAK,    RIDE   AND   DRIVE  A   HORSE. 

No.  2.  Oil  of  spike,  1  oz.,  oil  of  origanum,  4:  ozs.,  aqua  am 
monia,  2  ozs.,  tincture  of  cayenne  pepper,  4  ozs.,  beef's  f^all, 
one  gill,  camplior  gum,  1  oz.,  alcohol.  1  pint;  mix:  used  for 
the  same  purposes  as  No.  1. 

No.  3.  Best  vinegar,  1  cjt.,  saltpeter,  pulverized,  4  ozs., 
wormwood.  4  ozs.;  mix,  and  steep  in  a  dish  well  covered; 
strain  and  press  the  herbs:  valuable  for  bruises,  swellings  and 
sprains. 

SADDLE    AXD    HARNESS    GALLS,    BRUISES,    ETC. 

No.  1.  Tincture  of  opium,  2  ozs.,  tannin,  2  drachms;  mix 
and  apply  twice  a  day. 

No.  2.  Take  while-lead  and  linseed  oil.  mix  as  for  paint, 
and  apply  two  or  three  times  a  day ;  this  is  good  for  scratches, 
or  any  wounds  on  a  horse. 

EYE-WATER    FOR    HORSES. 

Sugar  of  lead.  1  drachm,  tincture  of  opium,  2  draclims, 
soft  water,  1  pint;  mix,  and  wash  the  eye  two  or  three  limes 
a  day. 

FOUNDER. 

No.  1.  Vinegar,  3  pints,  cayenne  pepper,  1-2  drachm, 
tincture  of  aconite  rool,  15  drops,  nnx,  and  boil  down  to  1 
quart;  when  cool,  give  as  a  drench;  Idanket  the  horse  well; 
after  the  horse  has  perspired  for  an  hour  or  more,  give  one 
quart  of  linseed  oil:  this  treatment  will  be  found  good  for 
horses  foundered  by  eatnig  too  niucii  grain. 

No  2.  Some  recommend  for  horses  foundered  on  grain,  to 
bleed  about  1  gallon,  then  to  drencli  the  horse  with  linseed 
oil,  1  quart;  after  this,  rub  the  fore  legs  well,  and  for  a  long 
time  with  very  warm  wat<>r,  wiih  a  little  tincture  of  opium 
mixed  with  it.  As  the  h^rse  will  not  recover  from  the  loss  of 
blood  for  a  long  lime,  it  is  usually  better  lo  adopt  the  treat- 
ment given  m  No.  1. 

ANODYNE  DRENCHES. 

No.  1.  Tincture  of  opium,  1  ounce,  starch  gruel,  1  quart; 
mix. 

No.  2.  Sweet  spirits  of  niter.  1  oz.,  tincture  of  opium,  1 
oz  .  essence  of  peppermint.  1-4  oz.,  water,  1  pint;  mix. 

No.  3.  Tincture  of  opmm.  1  oz.,  spirits  of  camphor,  1  2 
ounce,  anise,  1-2  ounce,  sulphuric  ether,  1  oz.,  water,  1  pint; 
mix. 

DIABETES. 

Sugar  of  lead,  10  grains,  alum  30  grains,  catechu,  1  dr., 
tincture  of  opium,  1-2  ounce,  water,  1  pint;  mix. 

FARCY   AND   GLANDERS. 

No.  1.  Iodide  of  potassium,  1  1-4  drachms,   coi)peras   1-2 


HOW  TO   BREAK,    RIDE  AND   DRIVE  A   HORSE.      49 

drachm,  ginger,  1  drachm,  geiiiian,  2  drachms,  powdered 
gum-arabic  and  syrup  to  form  a  ball. 

No.  2.  Calomel,  1-2  d"achm,  turpentine,  1-2  ounce,  blue 
vitriol,  1  drachm,  gum-arabic  and  syrup  to  form  a  ball. 

No.  3.  1-2  ounce  sulphate  of  soda,  6  grains  of  Spanish 
flies,  powdered;  mix;  and  give  at  night  in  cut  feed  for  sev- 
eral weeks;  give  at  the  same  time  every  morning  and  noon, 
3  drachms  powdered  gentian,  2  drachms  powdered  blue  vit- 
riol; give  the  medicines  for  a  long  time;  feed  well.  This  is 
the  best  treatment  that  can  be  given  for  this  disease. 

FEVER   BALLS. 

No.  1.  Saltpeter,  2  1-2  drachms,  tartar  emetic,  1-2  drachm, 
flaxseed  meal,  1  oz.,  camphor,  1-2  drachm,  ginger,  2  drachms; 
mix,  and  form  into  a  ball ;  repeat  three  or  four  times  a  day  if 
necessary. 

No.  2.  Tincture  of  aconite,  ten  drops,  tartar  emetic,  1-4 
draclim,  saltpeter,  1  drachm,  ginger,  2  drachms,  linseed 
meal,  1  ounce;  mix,  and  form  into  a  ball;  repeat  three  oi 
four  times  a  day  if  necessary. 

DIURETIC  AND  TONIC    BALL. 

Copperas,  1  1-2  drachm,  ginger,  1  drachm,  gentian,  1 
drachm,  saltpeter,  3  drachms,  rosin,  1-2  oz.,  flaxseed  meal, 
1  oz. ;  mix,  and  form  into  a  ball. 

DIURETIC   BALLS. 

No.  1.  Saltpeter,  3  drachms,  rosin,  4  drachms,  castile 
soup,  2  drachms,  fenugreek,  3  drachms,  flaxseed  meal,  1 
ounce;  mix,  and  form  into  a  ball. 

No.  2.  Oil  of  juniper,  1-2  drachm,  rosin  and  saltpeter 
each,  2  drachms,  camphor,  1-2  drachm,  castile  soap,  1  oz., 
flaxseed  meal,  1  cz. ;  mix,  and  form  into  a  ball. 

CORDIAL    BALLS. 

No.  1.  Anise,  powdered,  1-2  ounce,  ginger,  1  drachm, 
gentian,  1  dracJim,  fenugreek,  2  drachms;  mix. 

No.  2.  Caraway  and  ginger,  each,  2  drachms,  anise,  gen- 
tian and  fenugreek,  each,  1  oz;  mix. 

No.  3.  Camphor,  1  drachm,  anise,  3  drachms,  tincture  of 
opium,  1  oz.,  powdered  extract  of  licorice,  ^  drachms,  flax- 
seed meal,  1  ounce;  mix. 

ASTRINGENT   AND    CORDIAL. 

No.  1.  Opium,  12  grains,  camphor,  1-2  drachm,  catechu, 
I  dr. ;  mix. 

NOi  2.  Opium,  10  grains,  camphor,  1  drachm,  ginger,  2 
drs.,  castile  soap,  2  drachms,  anise,  3  drs.,  licorice,  2 
drachms;  mix. 


50   HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A   HORSE. 

ALTERATIVE   ANE   LAXATIVE    BALLS. 

No.  1.  Linseed  meal,  1  ounce,  aloes,  1-2  ounce,  casiile 
sOap,  1-2  ounce;  mix. 

No.  2.  Ginger,  1  drachm,  bar  soap,  3  drachms,  Barbadoes 
aloes  pulverized,  6  drachms,  flaxseed  meal,  1  ounce. 

TONIC    BALL. 

Ginger,  2  drachms,  gentian.  1  dracbm,  Peruvian  bark,  1-2 
ounce,  fenugreek,  1-4  oz, ;  mix  and  form  a  ball. 

DIURETICS. 

Take  of  balsam  copaiba,  2  ozs.,  sweet  spirits  of  niter,  3 
ounces,  spirits  of  turpentine,  2  ozs.,  oil  of  juniper,  2  ozs., 
tincture  of  camphor,  2ozs. ;  mix;  shake  the  bottle  before 
pouring  the  medicine;  dose  for  an  adult  horse,  two  table- 
spoonfuls  in  a  pint  of  milk,  repeated  every  four  to  six  hours 
if  necessary.  This  is  a  reliable  preparation  for  kidney  diffi- 
culties. 

COUGH   MIXTURES. 

No.  1.  Oil  of  tar,  given  as  directed  for  the  treatment  of 
heaves,  is  one  of  the  best  remedies  for  nearly  all  coughs. 

No.  2.  Take  of  alcohol,  1-2  pint,  balsarn  of  tir,  2  ounces; 
mix  well,  and  add  all  the  tar  it  will  cut.  Shake  well  before 
usifig.  Dose  from  one  to  two  leaspoonfuls  two  or  three 
times  a  day. 

FARCY. 

Nitrate  of  potash,  4  ozs.,  black  antimony,  2  ozs..  sulphite 
of  soda,  1  oz.,  elecampane,  2  ozs.;  mix;  dose,  one  table- 
spoonful  once  or  twice  a  day. 

NASAL   GLEET. 

Copperas,  2  ozs.,  pulverized  gentian,  3  ozs.,  elecampane,  1 
oz.,  linseed  meal,  3  ozs.;  mix,  and  give  from  1-2  to  1  table- 
spoonful  twice  a  day. 

No.  2.  Aloes,  6  ozs.,  pulverized  nux  vomica,  3  drachms, 
flaxseed  meal,  4  ozs.,  make  into  eight  powders  and  give  one 
or  two  each  day. 

CRACKED   HEELS. 

Tar,  8 ozs.,  bees-wax,  1  oz.,  rosin,  1  oz.,  alum,  1  oz.,  tallow, 
1  oz.,  sulphate  of  iron,  1  oz,,  carbolic  acid,  1  drachm;  mix, 
and  boil  over  a  slow  tire.  Skim  off"  the  tilth,  and  add  2  ozs. 
of  the  scrapings  of  sweet  elder. 

THRUSH. 

No.  1.  "Wash  the  feet  well  with  castile  soap  and  water,  and 
sprinkle  a  small  quantity  of  pulverized  blue  vitriol  in  the  cleft, 
and  then  fill  up  all  the  cavities  with  cotton  and  press  it  in  so 
as  to  keep  out  all  dirt,  and  repeat  as  often  aa  necessary  until 
the  nuro  is  complRte. 


HOW  TO  BREAK,  RtDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE.        51 

No.  2.  Blue  vitriol  and  copperas,  of  each  one  ounce,  burnt 
alum,  2  ozs.,  while  vitriol,  1-4  oz. ;  mix. 

WATER    FARCY. 

No.  1.  Saltpeter,  2  ozs.,  copperas,  2  ozs.,  ginger,  1  oz., 
fenugreek,  2  ozs.,  anise,  1-2  oz.,  gentian,  1  oz. ;  mix  and  divide 
into  eight  powders;  give  tvvo  or  three  each  day. 

No,  2.  Gentian,  1  oz.,  ginger  1-2  oz.,  anise,  1  oz.,  elecam- 
pane, 2  ozs.,  blue  vitriol,  1  oz.,  flaxseeJ  meal,  2  ozs.,  salt- 
peter. 2  ozs.;  mix,  and  divide  into  eight  powders.  Moderate 
daily  exercise  and  rubbing  the  limbs  are  useful. 

HEALING   PREPARATIONS. 

No.  1.  Carbolic  acid,  1  oz.,  soft  water,  2  pts. ;   mix. 

No.  2.  White  vitriol,  1  oz.,  soft  water,  2  pts. ;  mix. 

No.  3.  Pulverized  camphor,  1  drachm,  prepared  chalk,  6 
drachms,  burnt  alum,  4  drachms;  mix.  Sprinkle  over  the 
sore. 

No.  4.  Tincture  of  opium,  1  oz.,  tannin,  1  drachm;  mix 
and  shake  well  before  using.  Excellent  for  galls  of  collar, 
saddle,  or  in  fact  for  any  purpose  requiring  a  healing  astrin- 
gent. 

FOR  GALLED  BACK  OR  SHOULDERS. 

Tincture  of  arnica,  1  oz.,  vinegar,  6  ozs.,  brandy,  4  ozs., 
aal  ammoniac,  2  ozs.,  soft  water,  1  pt. ;  mix,  and  bathe  with 
it  often. 

FOR   UNHEALTHY  ULCERS. 

Nitric  acid,  1  oz.,  blue  vitriol,  3  ozs.,  soft  water,  fifteen  ozs. 

FOR   FRESH  WOUNDS. 

Copperas,  2  drachms,  white  vitriol,  3  drachms,  gunpowder, 
2  drachms,  boiling  soft  water,  2  qrts. ;  mix;  when  cool  it  is 
ready  for  use. 

HEALING   MIXTURE. 

Cosmoline,  5  ozs.,  carbolic  acid,  1  drachm;  mix.  This  is 
one  of  the  very  best  of  mixtures  for  any  sore,  especially  such 
cases  as  are  inclined  not  to  heal  readily. 

TO   CURE    MANGE. 

Oil  tar,  1  oz.,  lac  sulphur,  1  1-2  ozs.,  whale  oil,  2  ozs.; 
mix.  Rub  a  little  on  the  skin  wherever  the  disease  appears, 
and  continue  daily  for  a  week,  and  then  wash  of!"  with  castile 
soap  and  warm  water. 

HEALING   MIXTURE  FOR  CUTS. 

Balsam  copaiba,  2  ozs.,  tincture  of  myrrh,  3  ozs. ;  mix. 
This  iE  a  good  healing  mixture. 

SORE  LIPS. 

The  lips  become  sore  frequently  at  the  angles  of  the  mouth 


52    HOW  TO  BREAK,   EIBE    AND    DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

from  bruising  with  the  bit.     They  can  be  cured  by  applying 
the  following  mixture: 

Tincture  of  myrrh,  2  ozs.,  tincture  of  aloes,  1  oz..  and  tinc- 
ture of  opium,  1-2  oz. ;  mix  and  apply  three  or  four  times  a 
day. 

FOR  SORE  MOUTH  AND  LIPS. 

Borax,  1  oz.,  tannin,  1-4  oz.,  glycerine,  8  ozs.;  mix  and, 
apply  two  or  three  times  a  day  with  a  swab. 

FOR   SPAVINS,   ETC. 

Hog's  lard  and  spirits  of  turpentine;  mix,  and  place  in  the 
hot  sunshine  for  four  or  five  days.  Apply  four  or  five  times 
a  week. 

EYE- WATER. 

White  vitriol  and  saltpeter,  of  each  one  scruple,  pure  soft 
water,  8  ozs. ;  mix.  This  should  be  applied  lo  the  inflamed 
lids  3  or  4  times  a  day,  and  if  tiie  inflammaiion  does  not 
lessen  in  1  or  2  days,  it  may  be  injected  directly  into  the  eye. 

Tiie  writer  lias  used  this  for  his  own  eyes,  reduced  half 
with  water  and  dropped  directly  into  the  eye,  which  would 
cause  the  eye  to  smart  considerably  for  about  five  minutes, 
when  he  would  bathe  the  eye  with  cold  water  for  a  few  min- 
utes, and  by  repeating  this  three  or  four  limes  a  day  it  has 
given  the  very  best  of  satisfaction. 

It  does  nicely  many  times  to  just  close  the  e3'e  and  bathe 
the  outside  freely. 

FOR   POLL   EVIL,    FISTULA,    OR   ANY   INDOLENT    ULCER. 

Fill  the  sore  to  the  bottom  with  ashes  from  burnt  c•rn^ 
cobs;  repeat  two  or  three  times,  if  necessary,  until  a  cure  is 
efi'ected. 

FOR   COLIC. 

Take  of  gum  myrrh,  1  oz.,  gum  camphor,  1  oz.,  powdered 
gum  guaiac,  1  oz.,  cayenne,  1  oz.,  sassafras  bark,  powdered, 
1  oz.,  spirits  turpentine,  1  oz.,  oil  origanum,  1-4  oz.,  oil  hem- 
lock, 1-2  oz.,  pulverized  opium,  1-2  oz.,  strongest  alcohol.  2 
qrts. ;  mix  all  together  and  shake  often  for  eiglit  or  ten  days 
and  filter  or  strain  through  flannel.  Dose  from  1  to  3  table- 
spoonfuls,  according  to  the  severity  of  the  case,  given  in  a 
pint  of  milk. 

We  cever  have  known  the  above  remedy  to  fail  of  giving 
relief  when  given  for  colic  in  horses.  In  many  cases  where 
it  has  been  used  it  has  given  immediate  relief  when  various 
other  remedies  had  failed  of  giving  any  relief. 

It  makes  one  of  the  very  best  of  Pain  Killers  for  family 
use,  and  we  advise  all  to  keep  it  on  hand. 


HOW   TO   BREAK,     RIDE    AND    DRIVE  A   HORSE.    53 

FOR    FLESH    WOUNDS. 

To  prevent  inflamination  or  tendency  to  sloughing  or  mor- 
tilicalion.  Take  1  i)Ound  saltpeter.  2  gallons  water,  3  pints 
proof  spirits;  mix,  afn.l  inject  into  the  wound  with  a  syringe 
three  tnnes  a  day  iinlil  it  iieals.  In  treating  deep  wounds,  or 
of  a  dangerous  cliaracter,  especially  if  the  animal  is  incliised 
to  be  fat,  give  a  dose  of  pliysic,  feed  bran,  carrots,  etc.  No 
grain  should  be  fed,  gniss  is  more  desirable  than  hay.  If 
grass  is  fed  freely,  physic  is  not  necessary. 

FOR    REMOVING    ENLARGEMENTS,  ETC. 

Oil  spike,  1  oz.,  camphor,  1  oz.,  oil  origanum,  2  ozs.,  oil 
amber,  1  oz.,  spirits  turpentine,  2  ozs.  Rub  on  the  mixture 
thoroughly  two  or  three  times  a  week. 

FOR   BRUISES,   CUTS,   ETC.,   ON    HORSE    OR    MAN. 

Tinctuie  arnica,  1  oz.,  sassafras  oil,  1-2  oz.,  laudanum,  1 
oz. ;  mix.  Shake  well  before  using.  Bandage  lightly,  and 
keep  wet  with  the  mixture. 

QUARTER    CRACK. 

The  best  way  to  cure  quarter  crack  is  to  open  the  heel  on 
that  side  between  bar  and  frog,  cutting  down  pretty  well 
(not  sufficient  to  cause  bleeding^,  until  the  quarter  will  give 
freely;  then  put  on  a  shoe  that  will  expand  the  heel.  It  is 
only  necessary  in  this  case  that  the  inner  heel  should  be  open- 
ed or  spread,  as  the  hoof  is  simply  too  small  for  the  foot;  if 
this  is  properly  done  the  point  is  directly  reached.  Some 
recommend,  in  addition  to  this,  burning  with  a  hot  iron  a 
crease  across  at  the  upper  edge  of  hoof.  If  this  is  done  prop- 
erly the  hoof  will  not  split  any  more.  The  hoof  may  now  be 
more  rapidly  grown  if  desired.  Opening  the  foot  and  the 
shoe  is  the  point  of  success. 

QUITTOR. 

Corrosive  sublimate,  1-4  oz.,  muriatic  acid  20  drops,  soft 
water  2  ozs. ;  mix  the  two  last  and  shake  well,  then  add  the 
lirst. 

Inject  a  little  with  a  glass  syringe  one  or  two  times,  bein? 
careful  to  inject  to  the  bottom.  Warm  poultices  generally 
work  well,  used  for  several  days. 

BOTS. 

All  horses  which  run  out  to  grass  are  quite  sure  to  have 
bots  in  their  stomachs,  and  as  there  is  so  much  misconcep- 
tion about  bots  and  their  destructiveness  to  horses,  we  copy 
the  result  of  a  series  of  experiments  with  bots  three-fourihs 
grown. 

When  immersed  in  rum,  they  live  25  hours;  decoction  of 
tobacco,  11  hours;  strong  oil  of  vitriol,  2  hours  18  minutes j 


54     MOW  TO  BREAK,   RtDE  AND  DRIVE  A  ttORSE. 

essential  oil  of  mint,  2  hours  5  minutes.  Were  immei-sed 
without  apparent  injury,  inspirits  of  camphor,  10  hours;  tish 
oil,  49  hours;  tincture  aloes,  10  hours;  in  brine,  10  iiours;  so- 
lution indigo,  10  hours.  A  number  of  small  bot?,  with  one 
that  was  full  grown,  were  immersed  in  a  strong  solution  of 
corrosive  sublimate,  one  of  the  most  powerful  poisons;  the 
small  ones  died  in  one  hour,  but  the  full-grown  one  was  taken 
out  of  the  solution,  six  hours  after  its  immersion,  apparently 
unhurt. 

It  will  be  seen  bj^  the  above  experiments  that  no  medicine 
can  be  given  which  will  effect  the  bot  that  will  not  destroy 
the  coating  of  the  stomach,  and  injure  or  kill  the  horse.  No 
veterinary  surgeon  can  tell  the  symptoms  of  bots  from  colic. 
In  fact,  there  is  but  little  doubt  that  ninety-nine  out  of  every 
one  hundred  cases  of  belly-ache,  is  no  more  nor  less  than  colic 
and  not  bots,  and  should  be  treated  as  we  have  already  directed 
in  the  treatment  of  colic. 

TO     GROW    HAIR. 

Mix  sweet  oil,  1  pint,  sulphur,  3  ozs.  Shake  well,  and  rub 
well  into  the  dock  twice  a  week. 

FOR  WORMS. 

Calomel,  1  drachm,  tartar  emetic,  1-2  drachm,  linseed 
meal,  1  oz.,  fenugreek,  1  oz.  Mix  and  give  in  feed  at  night, 
and  repeat  the  dose  for  two  or  three  times,  and  follow  with 
112  pints  of  linseed  oil  about  6  hours  after  the  last  powder 
has  been  given. 

GREASE    HEEL. 

Chloride  of  zinc,  1  1-2  drachm,  water,  10  ozs.,  glycerine,  8 
ozs. ;  mix.  If  there  is  much  discharge,  apply  a  poultice  for 
several  hours,  followed  by  application  of  the  above  after 
cleansing  well  with  soft  water  and  castile  soap.  The  follow- 
ing powders  should  be  given  at  the  same  lime  in  the  feed; 
every  night  for  a  week  or  two:  Bicarbonate  of  soda,  1  oz., 
arsenic,- 1  drachm,  iodide  of  iron,  1-2  oz.,  fenugreek,  2  ozs., 
ginger,  2  ozs.,  elecampane,  1  oz. ;  mix  thoroughly,  and  divide 
into  12  powders. 

FOR   DISTEMPER. 

Hops,  2  ounces,  carbolic  acid  30  drops,  boiling  water  2 
gallons.  Mix  tlie  hops  and  carbolic  acid  with  the  boiling 
water  and  compel  the  animal  to  inlialethe  steam  for  15  or  20 
minutes  at  a  time  and  repeat  three  times  a  day.  Apply  a 
strong  mustard  paste  to  the  throat,  and  place  a  warm  poul- 
tice over  the  paste.  Feed  warm  mashes  and  boiled  vege- 
tables; keep  stable  comfortably  warm  and  the  air  pure. 
Give  the  following  powders  once  a  day.  Take  powdered 
Peruvian  bark,  2  ounces,  powdered  gentian,  1  ounce,  pow- 
dered copperas,  1  ounce;  mix  and  divide  into  8  powders. 


ETOW  TO   BREAK,    RIDE  AND   DRIVE  A   HORSE.    56 
THRUSH. 

Take  white  vitriol,  2  ounces,  soft  water,  8  ounces.  Mix, 
and  apply  to  the  diseased  surface,  after  the  ragged  parts 
have  been  cut  away  and  thoroughly  cleansed.  Pack  the 
cavities  with  cotton  batting,  so  as  to  keep  out  all  dirt. 

FOR    RINGWORM. 

Apply  mercurial  ointment  3  or  4  times  a  week. 

FOR   BRITTLE   AND    CONTRACTED    HOOFS. 

Take  of  castor  oil,  Barbadoes  tar  and  soft  soap,  equal 
parts  of  each,  melt  all  together,. and  stir  while  cooling,  and 
apply  a  little  to  the  hoof  S'or  4  times  a  week. 


-  MEDICINES  USED  FOE  THE  HORSE. 


We  will  give  something  of  a  history  of  the  more  important 
drugs  used  for  the  treatment  of  the' diseases  of  the  horse, 
witli  their  ettects  and  uses. 

AoiDS.  These  nearly  all  have  a  sour  taste,  and  are  derived 
from  the  ve^eiable,  mineral  and  animal  kingdoms.  The 
number  of  acids  used  in  medicines  is  small;  among  the  most 
important  of  these  are  acetic  acid,  muriatic  acid,  nitric  acid, 
sulphuric  acid,  tannic  acid,  gallic  acid,  carbolic  acid,  arsen- 
ious  acid,  phosphoric  acid,  tartaric  acid. 

Acetic  Acid.  When  diluted  with  seven  parts  of  water  it  is 
about  tlie  strength  of  ordinary  vinegar.  It  is  produced  from 
thf  purification  of  pyroligneous  acid. 

Use.  It  is  used  by  some  with  good  results  for  sprains, 
and  bruises,  and  for  the  destruction  of  the  poison  of  insects, 
ly  adding  to  six  ounces  of  the  acid  1-4  ounce  tincture  of 
opium  and  two  ounces  of  camphor. 

Muriatic  Acid.  This  acid  is  obtained  by  the  action  of 
sulphuric  acid  on  common  salt.  When  pure  it  is  a  trans- 
parent colorless  liquid;  but  the  commercial  acid  has  a  yellow- 
ish color. 

Muriatic  acid  is  a  good  tonic  in  debilitating  diseases  of  the 
horse,  and  is  refrigerant  and  antiseptic. 

Dose.  Half  to  one  fluid  drachm  may  be  given  largely 
dilated  with  cold  water,  and  repeated  two  to  four  times  a 
day. 

Externally,  it  may  be  used  for  sores  in  the  feet,  by  pour- 
ing a  few  drops  in  the  sores  or  nail-holes.  Eight  or  ten 
drops  may  be  advantageously  used  for  poll-evil  or  quittor  by 
being  poured  directly  mto  the  fistulona  opening. 


56  HOW  TO  BREAK,  RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  HORSE. 

It  riiay  be  used  for  various  affections  of  the  skin  bj^  dilut- 
ing witli  glycerine,  and  washing  off  in  a  short  time  if  used 
strong. 

Carbolic  Acid.  This  important  medicine  is  obtained 
from  coal-tar  oil.     Its  smell  resembles  that  of  creosote. 

Uses.  It  is  used  for  various  purposes,  such  as  a  disinfect- 
ant in  stables,  where  animals  have  distempers,  fevers,  etc., 
by  washing  the  stalls,  floors  and  ceilings  with  water  which 
contains  a  small  quantity  of  the  acid;  also  used  with  grati- 
fying results  for  unhealthy  wounds  and  sores,  by  applying  a 
solution  of  the  following  strength:  Carbolic  acid.  1  oz. ; 
fresh  soft  water,  6  pints.  This  prevents  putrefaction,  and 
will  cause  the  wound  to  be  more  healthy  and  heal  sooner. 
Carbolic  acid  is  also  used  for  destroying  woodticks,  lice,  and 
all  kinds  of  parasites,  and  is  quite  effective  in  preventing 
the  bot-fly  from  depositing  her  eggs  when  those  parts  which 
are  commonly  chosen  by  the  bot-fly  are  washed  with  a  solu- 
tion double  the  strength  given  above. 

Nitric  Acid.  (Called  also  Aqua  Fortis.)  This  is  also  a 
valuable  tonic  when  properly  given.  It  is  extremely  sour 
and  corrosive,  and  should  be  guarded  by  the  same  caution  as 
in  giving  the  sulphuric  acid. 

i)ose.  It  may  be  given  in  doses  of  5  to  25  drops,  largely 
diluted  with  waier. 

Sulphuric  Acid  (called  also  oil  of  Vitriol;.  This  acid  is 
obtained  by  burning  snlpliur,  mixed  with  one-eigiith  of  its 
weight  of  niter  over  a  stratum  of  water  contained  in  a 
chamber  lined  with  sheet-lead. 

Uses.  Many  consider  this  acid  to  be  preferable  to  any  other 
of  the  acids  for  internal  use,  in  debility  of  digestive  organs, 
general  weakness,  and  as  a  refrigerant. 

Externally,  it  is  used  similarly  to  muriatic  acid.  When  it 
is  desired  to  use  it  as  a  cau?tic  it  should  be  mixed  with  dry 
yowdered  white  vitriol  sufficient  to  make  It  of  a  pasty  con- 
sistence, so  it  can  be  confined  to  thejocation  which  it  is  de- 
sired to  cauterize. 

This  acid,  as  well  as  nitric  or  muriatic  acid  is  a  powerful 
irritating  poison  when  given  into  the  stomach  undiluted; 
and  persons  should  bear  in  mind  that  when  these  acids  are 
given  that  they  should  be  largely  diluted  with  water  and 
thoroughly  mixed  before  administering. 

Dose  of  vSulphuric  acid  is  about  10  to  40  drops,  largely 
diluted  with  water. 

Tannic  Acid.  (Called  also  Tannin. ^  This  is  produced 
from  flut-galls,  oak-bark,  etc.  It  is  uncrystallizable,  white 
or  slightly  yellowish,  with  a  strong  astringent  taste,  inodor- 


HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A  MORSE.    57 

ous,  soluble  in  water,  but  not  very  soluble  in  alcohol  or 
«lher,  and  insoluble  in  most  oils. 

Tuniiic  acid  precipitates  solutions  ol  starch,  albumen  and 
t^luten,  and  forms  with  gelatine  an  insoluble  compound, 
which  is  tlie  basis  of  leather. 

Uses.  IL  is  valuable,  mixed  with  water,  as  a  wash  for  rim- 
ning  sores  and  ulcers,  and  is  also  excellent  for  diarrhoea,  and 
may  be  given  for  any  disease  where  this  class  of  medicines  is 
indicated.  It  will,  in  many  cases  of  bleeding  soivs,  stop  the 
bleeding  if  applied  locally.  It  is  sometimes  used  as  an  eye- 
wash with  excellent  success,  by  applying  a  solution  of  the 
following  strength:  Tannic  aciil,  1-4  ounce;  cold  water,  I 
quart.  As  it  is  harmless  and  safe  to  use,  we  would  recom- 
mend it  as  an  eye-wash. 

vose.  For  diarrhoea  the  dose  should  be  from  1-2  to  1 
drachm. 

Aconite.  (Wolfs-bane— Monk's-hood.)  An  active  poison, 
which  grows  abundantly  in  the  forests  of  Germany,  France 
and  Switzerland.  It  is  also  cultivated  in  the  gardens  of  Eu- 
rope, and  has  been  introduced  into  this  country  as  an  orna- 
mental flower.  All  pans  are  poison.  The  leaves  and  roots 
are  used.  A  tincture  made  from  the  root  is  much  more 
active  than  from  the  leaves. 

Tinctwe  of  Aconite  Root.— This,  is  one  of  the  most  power- 
ful and  successful  sedatives  which  is  in  use.  It  is  one  of  the 
best  medicines  we  have  for  the  successful  treatment  of  several 
of  the  diseases  of  the  horse,  when  pioperly  used,  and  has,  to  a 
certain  extent,  done  away  with  bleeding  and  physicking,  the 
former  of  which  has  been,  in  the  past,  so  indiscriminately 
and  dangerously  used.  It  is  not  only  sedative,  but  it  is  an 
anotlyne,  diaphoretic  and  antipiilogistic.  It  controls  fever, 
reduces  intlammation,  and  allays  pain.  In  fact,  we  have  no 
drug  which  will  so  well  control  the  circulation  and  action  of 
the  heart  as  aconite. 

Medical  l^s•e.5— The  effects  of  remedial  doses  a,re  felt  in 
20  or  30  minutes,  and  are  at  their  height  in  an  hour  or  two, 
and  continue  with  little  abatement  from  3  to  5  hours.  We 
have  no  single  drug  which  is  used  with  such  giatif\  ing  re- 
sults in  many  cases,  such  as  lung  fever,  or,  in  fact,in  flamma- 
tion  of  any  part  of  the  body,  colic  from  eating  green  food, 
and  founder. 

Caution.  In  overdoses  this  valuable  drug  is  an  active 
poison,  therefore,  we  would  caution  all  who  use  it  about 
giving  too  large  quantities,  as  prostration  and  pcihaps 
death  would  be  the  result.  Never  give  more  than  6  or  6 
doses,  if  25  drops  are  given  at  each  dose,  nor  more  than  7  or 
8,  if  20  drops  are  given  at  each  dose.     The  dose  may  vary 


68      HOW  TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND  DRIVE  A   HORSE. 

frcm  10  to  45  drops,  but  for  most  purposes  should  be  about 
25  drops. 

<-  Aloes.  Are  of  severiil  varieties:  Cape,  Barbadoes  and 
Socotrine,  and  is  the  condensed  juice  of  the  leaves  of  a  plant. 
Given  by  some  as  a  puro;ative  or  cathartic  for  horses;  others 
consider  it  bad  practice  to  use  it  much.  Dose,  should,  for 
ordinary  purposes,  be  from  1-2  lo  1  ounce.  It  is  generally 
best  to  combine  witli  it  fenugreeiv,  ginger  or  canella. 

Antimony,  exists  in  its  natural  state  in  France  and  Ger- 
many. Tlie  preparations  of  antimony  which  are  used  for  the 
horse  most,  are  1st,  sulphuret  of  antimony,  also  commonly 
called  black  antimony.  This  is  by  many  considered,  a  re- 
markable remedy  for  the  horse,  for  many  purposes,  bnt  espe- 
cially to  make  the  horse  shiJie,  and  \o  have  the  appearance 
of  being  quite  fat.  2d.  Tartrate  of  antimony  and  Potassa, 
commonly  called  tartar  emetic,  has  been  in  great  repute  in 
Ihe  treatment  of  diseases  of  the  chest;  but  is  now  con- 
sidered  of  but  little  value  in  tliese  diseases. 

Anise  Seed.  Are  obtained  from  the  anise  plant,  which  is 
a  native  of  Egypt,  but  has  been  introduced  into  the  sou:h 
of  Europe,  and  is  cultivated  in  various  parts  of  that  country, 
and  is  cultivated  occasionally  in  the  gardens  of  this  country. 
Uses.  It  is  a  grateful  aromatic  carminative,  and  is 
supposed  to  have  the  property  of  increasing  the  secretion  of 
milk.  It  is  used  for  flatulent  colic,  indigestion,  loss  of  appe- 
tite, etc.  It  is  an  excellent  remedy  when  combined  with 
other  medicines  for  various  kinds  of  condition  powders. 

ose.    From  1-2  to  two  ounces,  and  may  be  repeated  three 
times  a  day. 

Aqua  Ammonia.  (Called  also  Hartshorn.)  This  medicine 
is  very  valuable  for  both  internal  and  external  use.  It  is  a  dif 
fusible  stimulant,  antispasmodic  and  antacid.  It  is  used  ex- 
ternally with  olive  oil,  and  in  various  mixtures  as  a  counter- 
irritant.  Used  as  an  antidote  for  bites  of  poisonous  serpents. 
Given  with  good  results  for  flatulent  colic  in  doses  of  two  to 
three  drachms  given  with  milk  as  directed  below  for  car- 
bonate of  ammonia. 

Carbonate  of  Ammonia.  This  is  a  very  valuable  medicine 
for  debility  and  prostration  from  lung  fever,  bronchitis,  in- 
fluenza or  any  disease  causing  great  weakness.  Its  eflects 
are  similar  to  those  of  aqua  ammonia  given  above. 

Dose.  One  to  three  drachms,  which  may  be  repeated  three 
times  a  day,  and  should  be  given  in  milk  or  cold  gruel,  so  as 
to  protect  the  mucous  membranes  of  the  Hiroat  and  stomach. 

Arsenic.  This  is  an  active  poison  in  large  doses,  but 
when  given  in  proper  doses  is  an  excellent  tonic,  improving 
the  general  condition  of  the  horse.    It  should  be  given  in  a 


HOW   TO   BREAK,    RIDE   AND   DRIVE   A   HORSE.      59 

large  bulk  of  cut  feed,  so  as  to  protect  the  stomach.  From 
2  lo  5  grains  may  be  given  in  the  24  hours,  and  should  be 
continued  for  about  two  weeks,  when  the  medicine  should  be 
stopped  for  one  or  two  weeks,  and  then  it  may  be  given  again 
as  before.     Some  consider  it  asure  cure  for  heaves. 

AssAFCETiDA.  A  gum-resin  obtained  from  a  plant  of  Per- 
sia by  making  incisions  into  the  living  root,  and  thejaice 
which  exudes  is  collected  and  dried  in  the  sun.  It  has  a  pe- 
culiar odor,  similar  to  that  of  onions. 

Uses.  It  is  antispasmodic,  expectorant,  and  a  moderate 
stimulant  and  laxative.  It  is  given  as  a  vermifuge  and  for 
loss  ol  appetite,  also  used  foi  heaves  in  connection  with  cam- 
phor.    (See  treatment  of  heaves.) 

Dose.  One  to  three  drachms,  and  if  the  stimulant  eflect  is 
wanted  give  from  one  to  two  ounces  of  the  tincture. 

Blue  Vitriol.  This  is  an  excellent  medicine  when  given 
internally,  as  a  toi:;c  to  build  up  the  system.  Given  for 
glanders,  farcy,  and  various  other  diseases  requiring  tonic 
and  alterative  medicine,  and  should  be  combined  with  gin- 
ger, fenugreek  or  gentian.  Externally  blue  vitriol  is  used 
with  good  results  as  a  caustic  for  proud-flesh  by  touching 
the  parts  with  a  piece  of  tiie  crystal.  It  is  also  excellent  tor 
many  wounds  which  have  no  proud-flesh  by  applying  it  in 
solution,  6  to  12  grains  to  each  ounce  of  soft  water. 

Dose.  It  may  be  given  in  doses  from  1-2  to  2  drachms, 
and  given  twice  a  da\'. 

Camphor.  A  peculiar  concrete  substance  derived  from  a 
plant  in  China  and  Japan.  It  is  recommended  for  nervous 
excitement,  heaves,  and  is  used  in  many  cough  mixtures.  It 
is  a  favorite  household  remedy,  and  ased  externally  to  a 
large  extent. 

Dose.  Camphor  may  be  given  in  doses  varying  fron  1-2  to 
2  drs.  Camphor  gum,  1  oz.,  and  sweet  oil  8  ozs.,  mixed, 
makes  a  very  good  external  remedy  for  various  purposes. 

Cantharides.  (Spanish  Flies.)  This  remedy  is  produced 
by  collecting  the  beetle  commonly  called  Spanish  Flies. 

These  insects  are  of  a  beautiful,  shining,  golden  green 
color,  and  usually  make  their  appearance  upon  the  trees  of 
Spain,  Italy,  and  the  south  of  France  in  the  months  of  May 
atid  June,  when  they  are  collected  by  placing  linen  cloths 
under  the  trees  on  which  they  have  lodged  through  the  night 
and  by  shaking  the  tree  early  in  the  morning,  while  they  are 
torpid  from  the  cold  of  the  night,  and  consequently  let  go 
their  hold  easily. 

They  are  then  deprived  of  life  by  the  vapor  from  boiling 
vinegar,  and  tiien  dried  in  the  sun,  or  in  rooms  heated  by 
stoves, 


60   HOW  TO   BREAK,    RIDE   AND  DRIVB  A   HORSE. 

Uses.  Internally,  cantharides  are  a  powerful  stimulant 
with  a  peculiar  direction  to  the  urinary  organs,  and  in  mod- 
erate doses  it  sometimes  acta  as  a  diuretic.  Used  with  good 
results  for  glanders  and  farcy. 

The  principal  use  of  the  cantharides  is  M  a  blister  by  mix- 
ing it  with  lard. 

Dose.  Spanish  Flies  may  be  given  in  doies  varying  from 
3  to  7  grains,  given  only  once  a  day. 

Castor  Oil.  This  is  the  expressed  oil  of  the  seeds  of  the 
castor  oil  plant,  which  is  now  cultivated  largely  in  this  coun- 
try throughout  many  of  the  Southern  and  Western  States. 

Use.  This  oil  is  very  useful  and  safe  for  common  use  in 
the  human  family,  but  is  considered  unfit  for  the  horse,  as  it 
sometimes  causes  inflammation  of  the  coate  of  the  bowela 
without  relief  from  the  purging. 

(Linseed  Oil  is  considered  as  safe  and  efRoient  for  the  horse 
as  castor  oil  is  for  man.    See  Linseed  Oil.) 

Dose.  When  it  is  thouglit  best  to  give  castor  oil,  or  in  the 
absence  of  the  linseed  oil,  it  may  be  given  In  doses  varying 
from  3-4  to  1  1-4  pints. 

Catechu.  An  extract  prepared  from  th©  wood  of  Acacia 
Catechu  and  found  most  abundant  in  the  East  Indies.  It  is  a 
small  tree,  seldom  growing  more  than  twelve  feet  in  height, 
with  the  trunk  about  one  foot  in  diameter.  • 

Use.  An  asiringent  which  will  bind  the  libwels  in  diarrhoea 
and  is  combined  with  good  results  with  opium  and  prepared 
chalk  for  diarrlioea. 

Dose.    One  to  three  drachms. 

Prepared  Chalk.  (Creta  Praeparata.)  This  is  the  only 
form  in  which  chalk  is  used  in  medicine  and  is  an  excellent 
antacid;  is  one  of  the  best  antidotes  for  oxalic  acid.  It  is 
used  with  good  results  for  acidity  of  the  stomach  and  for 
diarrhfjea,  etc. 

Dose.     One  to  two  ounces. 

Camomile  Flowers.  This  is  a  native  of  Europe,  and 
grows  wild  in  all  the  temperate  parts  of  that  continent,  and 
is  also  largely  cultivated. 

Use.  A  very  mild  tonic,  and  quite  useful  when  combined 
with  other  medicines  of  this  class. 

Dose.  It  may  be  given  in  doses  varying  from  one-half  fao 
two  ounces. 

Charcoal.  This  may  be  given  with  good  results  powdered 
for  chronic  diarrhcea,  dysentery  and  debilitated  stomach. 

Dose.  Half  an  ounce  to  one  ounce,  and  it  may  be  given 
suspended  in  gruel.  It  may  be  used  with  good  results  ex- 
ternally when  applied  to  badly  smelling  wounds. 

Chloride  of  Lime.    This  compound  was  originally  pre- 


HOW   TO   BREAK,    RIDE   AND   DRIVE  A  HORSE.      61 

pared  for  a  bleaching  agent  nearly  a  century  ago.  and  has 
siuce  been  found  to  have  valuable  properties  as  a  disinfectant. 
It  is  a  dry,  or  but  slightly  moist,  grayish  white,  pulverulent 
substance'  with  an  odor  similar  to  that  of  chlorine. 

Uses.  Chloride  of  lime  is  a  disinfectant,  and  from  its 
deodorizing  and  antiseptic  properties  makes  an  excellent 
stimulant  to  unhealthy  ulcers,  applied  in  solution,  also  for 
cutaneous  eruptions,  etc.  Its  principal  use  is  as  a  disinfect- 
ant in  stables  occupied  by  glandered  and  other  sickly  horses, 
and  may  be  sprinkled  on  the  floor  every  morning,  or  may  be 
suspended  in  the  stable  in  a  box  which  has  several  holes  cut 
into  it. 

Dose.  When  it  is  thought  best  to  give  it  internally,  1  to  3 
drachms  may  be  given  at  a  dose,  in  water. 

Chloroform.  Is  a  colorless,  volatile  liquid.,  having  a  bland 
ethereal  odor  and  sweetish  taste. 

Uses.  It  is  an  excellent  stimulant  for  horses  when  having 
a  chill,  from  cold  or  in  congestion,  and  is  sometimes  given  to 
quiet  pain  in  colic  and  other  painful  diseases.  It  is  used 
mostly  in  liniments,  and  sometimes  for  inhalation.  One 
ounce  of  chloroform  and  three  ounces  of  olive  oil  well  mixed 
makes  an  excellent  liniment  for  external  use.  ^Vhen  chloro- 
form is  given  to  the  horse  by  inhalation,  he  should  be  well 
secured  so  as  to  prevent  his  doing  any  damage,  as  it  some- 
times makes  the  horse  perfectly  wild  ano  uncontrollable.  When 
any  operation  of  any  considerable  extent  is  to  be  performed  it 
is  best  to  tie  the  horse  down,  and  then  administer  the  chloro- 
form by  pouring  about  an  ounce  of  chloroform  on  a  sponge, 
and  holding  the  sponge  to  one  nostril  and  covering  the  nose 
loosely  with  a  large  towel;  but  care  should  be  taken  to  allow 
the  horse  pure  air,  also  to  breathe  with  the  fumes  of  the 
chloroform.  Usually  two  to  four  ounces  is  sufficient  to  pro- 
duce its  effects  when  inhaled. 

Dose.     One  to  two  drachms  well  diluted  with  weak  spirits. 

Croton  Oil.  This  is  a  very  powerful  calliartic,  and  dan- 
gerous if  improperly  used.  But  as  a  "last  resort"  many 
timee  works  very  well. 

Dose  is  usually  from  ten  to  fifteen  drops. 

Elecampane.  This  is  one  of  the  best  medicines  in  use  for 
lung  affections,  and  should  enter  largely  into  all  mixtures  fur 
this  class  of  diseases.  It  is  also  an  agreeable  aromatic,  and 
should  form  a  part  of  all  Condition  Powders. 

Epsom  Salts.  (Sulphate  of  Magnesia.)  This  medicine, 
so  well  known  in  every-household,  is  used  with  good  results 
as  a  febrifuge,  and  1=  often  given  as  a  i)urgative.  It  is  not 
only  cheap,  but  it  is  very  good  for  several  diseases,  an«l  formg 
{I  part  of  various  condition  powders, 


62   HOW    TO  BREAK,    RIDE  AND   DRIVE  A    HORSE. 

Dose.  1-2  to  1  pound,  with  one  ounce  of  ginger  dissolved 
in  as  large  quantity  of  cold  water  as  can  be  given  ilie  liorso 
conveniently,  and  also  allowing  the  horse  to  drink,  if  he  will, 
after  the  salts  have  been  given,  for  the  reason  that  tliey  will 
be  much  more  efficient  if  largely  diluted. 

Ergot.  This  is  produced  from  diseased  rye,  and  is  of  great 
value  in  the  foaling  season,  as  it  is  the  most  effectnal  remedy 
known  for  increasing  the  action  of  the  uterus,  wlien  there  is 
not  sufficient  contraction.  Great  care  sliouid  be  tai<en  when 
it  is  given  that  nothing  prevents  delivery,  only  deficient 
action  of  the  uterus.  It  should  not  be  used  by  the  non-pro- 
fessional, as  they  would  be  more  likely  to  do  harm  with  it 
than  good;  in  fact,  the  cases  demanding  its  use  are  very  raro, 
but,  as  we  said  before,  where  its  use  is  really  called  for  noth- 
ing will  act  as  well. 

Dose.  Of  the  powder,  1-4  to  ^'4  ounce.  Of  the  tincture, 
one  to  two  fluid  ounces  m'ay  be  given. 

Ether.  (Sulphuric  Ether.)  TIms  is  a  very  valuable  rem- 
edy, and  is'used  with  excellent  results  for  colic,  and  for  vari- 
ous purposes  is  a  good  antispasmodic.  Given  with  tincture 
of  opium  it  works  admirably  for  colic. 

Dose'.     One  to  two  fluid  ounces. 

EuPHORBiuM.  This  is  the  concrete  resinous  juice  of  a 
plant  growing  in  Africa  and  in  other  parts  of  the  world. 

Use.  Owing  to  the  severity  of  its  action,  its  internal  use 
has  been  entirely  abandoned,  and  it  is  now  only  used  exter- 
nally, and  it  is  so  severe  that  it  is  but  very  little  used  now 
externally. 

Male  Fern.  The  root  of  a  plant  growing  in  South  Africa. 
Is  said  to  be  very  valuable  for  ridding  animals  of  worms. 

Dose.  It  may  be  given  to  the  horse  in  doses  of  one  half  to 
one  pound  of  the  powdered  root,  and  followed  with  a  purga- 
tive the  next  day. 

Fenugreek.  An  annual  plant  growinir  spontaneously  in 
Southern  Europe.  It  has  a  peculiar  odor  which  is  quite 
agreeable.  The  seeds  ground  is  the  portion  used,  and  they 
enter  largely  into  nearly  all  the  condition  powders  which 
are  put  up  and  sold  through  the  country. 

Dose,  1-4  to  1  ounce. 

Nut  Galls.  A  morbid  excrescence  upon  the  oak-tree  re- 
sulting from  holes  being  made  by  an  insect  in  the  bark. 

Uses.  It  is  a  powerful  astringent,  and  is  used  to  bind  the 
bowels  when  aflfected  with  diarrhoea  or  dysentery,  and  used  for 
applying  to  the  greasy  heels  of  horses. 

Dose.     One  to  three  drachms. 

[THE  END.] 


Secret  Service. 

Old  and  Young  King  Brady,  Detectives. 

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Embracing  tlie  most  daring  adventures, 
startling  scenes  and  hairbreadth  escapes  ever 
published. 

READ    THE.    FOLLOWING    LIST. 

1.  The  Black  Band;   or,   The    Two    King    Bradys 

A-sainst  a  Hard  Gang. 

2.  Told  by  the  Ticker;  or.  The  Two  King  Bradys 

on  a  Wall  Street  Case. 

3.  The  Bradys  After  a  Million;  or.  Their  Chase  to 

Save  an  Heiress. 

4.  The  Bradys'  Great  BluflF;  or,  A  Bunco  Game  that 

Failed  to  Work. 

5.  In  and  Out;   or.   The  Two  King  Bradys  on  a 

Lively  Chase. 

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Work    and   Win. 

An  Intepesting  Weekly  for  Young  Ameriea. 

BRIGHT,  CATCHY  STORIES. 
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Don't  fail  to  read  about  Fred  Fearnot's 
Wonderful  Adventures  in  School,  at  Col- 
lege, on  the  Stage,  Out  West  and  as  a 
Detective.  They  are  Bright,  Interesting 
and  Fascinating. 

COMPLETE    LIST. 


1  Fred  Fearnot;  or,  School  Days  at  Avon. 

2  Fred  Fearnot,  Detective;  or.  Balking  a  Desperate  Game. 

3  Fred  Fearnot's  Daring  Rescue;  or,  A  Hero  in  Spite  of  Himself, 

4  Fred  Fearnot's  Narrow  Escape;  or,  The  Piot  That  Failed. 

5  Fred  Fearnot  at  Aron  Again ;  or,  His  Second  Term  at  School. 

6  Fred  Fearnot's  Pluck ;  or.  His  Race  to  Save  a  Life. 

7  Fred  Fearnot  as  an  Actor;  or.  Fame  Before  the  Footlights. 

8  Fred  Fearnot  at  Sea;  or,  A  Chase  Across  the  Ocean. 

9  Fred  Fearnot  Out  West ;  or.  Adventures  With  the  Cowboys. 

10  Fred  Fearnot's  Great  Peril;  or,  Running  Down  the  Counter- 

11  Fred  Fearnot's  Double  Victory;  or,  Killing  Two  Birds  With 

One  Stone. 

12  Fred  Kearnot's  Game  Finish ;  or.  His  Bicycle  Race  to  Save  a 

Million. 

13  Fred  Fearnot's  Great  Run;  or,  An  Engineer  For  a  Week. 

U  Fr^  Fearnot's  Twenty  Rounds;  or.  His  Fight  to  Save  His 
Honor. 

15  Fred  Fearnot's  Engine  Company;  or,  Brave  Work  as  a  Fire 

man. 

16  Fred  Fearnot's  Good  Work;  or,  Helping  a  Friend  in  Need. 

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